The Supreme Court has rendered a decisive affirmation of the election of Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the candidate of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), as the Governor of Lagos State. In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justices Lawal Garba and Adamu Jauro, the court upheld the declaration of Sanwo-Olu as the winner of the March 18, 2023, gubernatorial election, effectively dismissing two separate appeals challenging his victory. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party (LP), who secured the second position, and Abdulazeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who came third, had contested the election results, citing alleged irregularities, malpractices, non-compliance, and non-qualification.
The crux of the appellants’ argument was centered on the citizenship of the Deputy Governor, claiming that his acquisition of U.S. citizenship rendered him unqualified for elective positions. They further contended that this alleged unlawful nomination affected the eligibility of Sanwo-Olu, urging the court to nullify their participation in the gubernatorial election. Justice Lawal countered these assertions, clarifying that a citizen with dual citizenship could only lose the right to be elected as governor if they denounced their Nigerian citizenship by birth. The Supreme Court ultimately dismissed both appeals for lacking merit, solidifying Sanwo-Olu’s mandate as the elected governor of Lagos State.
The court’s verdict not only reaffirms the legitimacy of Sanwo-Olu’s electoral victory but also addresses critical legal questions surrounding dual citizenship and its implications on eligibility for public office. Governor Sanwo-Olu secured a substantial victory with 762,134 votes, defeating Rhodes-Vivour and Jandor, who garnered 312,329 and 62,449 votes, respectively. This decision by the Supreme Court serves as a significant milestone in the electoral process, emphasizing the adherence to legal principles and upholding the democratic mandate bestowed upon the APC candidate by the people of Lagos State.
