The Supreme Court has affirmed Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s election victory as the Governor of Lagos State, upholding the prior judgment of the Court of Appeal in Lagos. The appeal lodged by Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party was dismissed on the grounds of lacking merit.

Rhodes-Vivour sought to overturn the Court of Appeal’s decision affirming Sanwo-Olu’s victory, alleging non-compliance with the Electoral Act and a failure to secure a majority of lawful votes. The Supreme Court, led by Justice Inyang Okoro, ruled that a Nigerian by birth is eligible to contest elections, reinforcing Sanwo-Olu’s legitimacy as the elected leader of Lagos State.

The electoral challenges focused on the certificates Sanwo-Olu submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the governorship election. The Labour Party and its candidate, Rhodes-Vivour, as well as Olajide Adediran of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), had filed appeals seeking to set aside the Court of Appeal’s judgment.

A three-man appellate court panel, led by Justice Yargata Nimpar, dismissed the appeals, citing constitutional disqualification for one candidate and a lack of merit in proving their case. Despite arguments from the LP candidate and others, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, upheld the lower courts’ findings.

Justice Mohammed Garba, reading the lead judgment, emphasized constitutional provisions and judicial precedent, asserting that a Nigerian by birth can aspire to any election in Nigeria. The court also addressed concerns about the deputy governor’s dual citizenship, stating that the LP and its candidate failed to provide evidence of the deputy governor renouncing his Nigerian citizenship while obtaining that of the United States.

INEC initially declared Sanwo-Olu the winner with 762,134 votes, while Rhodes-Vivour received 312,329 votes, and another candidate secured 62,499 votes. Additionally, the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by Adediran of the PDP challenging Sanwo-Olu’s victory, with Justice Adamu Jauro citing the expiration of the 180-day timeframe for determining such cases at the trial court and deeming the appeal devoid of merit.

“This appeal is devoid of any merit, and it is accordingly dismissed,” Justice Jauro said.