The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lagos State has affirmed the election of Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress as the duly elected governor of the state.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Mikhail Abdullah dismissed the petitions of Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, candidate of the Labour Party, and that of Olajide Adediran, of the Peoples Democratic Party, stating that the governorship ticket of Sanwo-Olu and that of his deputy Obafemi Hamzat is one and inseparable.

He stated that they are members of political parties and educated up to school certificate level.

Section 177 of the constitution stipulated that “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a State if

(a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth;

(b) he has attained the age of thirty-five years;

(c) he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; and

(d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.”

We have considered the evidence before this court. He has the highest number of votes. This petition is dead on arrival.”

“Given the evidence adduced before the court, the grounds on which the petitioner is seeking disqualification of 2nd and 3rd respondents lack merit. I have found Gov Sanwo-Olu and deputy, Dr Hamzat duly elected and therefore declared them winner,” the judge held.

Rhodes-Vivour and Jandor are challenging the victory of Sanwo-Olu at the March 18, governorship poll.

The governor was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Sanwo-Olu polled 762,134 votes to beat Rhodes-Vivour, who scored 312,329 votes and Olajide Adediran, who scored 62,449 votes.