Lagos Speaker congratulates Gov. Sanwo-Olu on Supreme Court judgement

*Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, congratulates Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the Supreme Court’s judgement confirming him as the winner of the 2023 gubernatorial election in the state, while also celebrating Chief Rasaq Akanni Okoya, the Aare of Lagos, at 84

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Following the re-affirmation of his electoral victory as the Chief Executive of the state, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly (LSHA), has congratulated Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the judgement of the Supreme Court delivered Friday, January 12, 2024, confirming him as the winner of the 2023 gubernatorial election in Lagos.

Dr. Obasa, in a congratulatory message issued by Eromosele Ebhomele, his Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Friday, and made available to ConsumerConnect, the Lagos Assembly Speaker said the judgement by the Supreme Court was a further affirmation that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has the support of Lagos residents as reflected in the governorship and House of Assembly elections held 2023.

The statement noted: “With the election battle now put to rest by the Supreme Court, I join millions of our supporters to congratulate our amiable Governor and Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat.

“It is a victory well deserved as the Supreme Court has now proven the Election Petition Tribunal and the Appeal Court right concerning their earlier rulings in favour of Governor Sanwo-Olu.”

Rt. Hon. Obasa further stated: “On behalf of my colleagues at the Lagos State House of Assembly, I also congratulate our party, its leadership, members and supporters on all the efforts they put into the electioneering.

“I urge other contenders in the election to join hands with the current administration and support its policies to make Lagos greater.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Mudashiru Obasa has congratulated Chief Rasaq Akanni Okoya, the Aare of Lagos, on his 84th birthday, describing the foremost industrialist as a blessing to Nigeria.

Obasa said Chief Okoya, at 84, had played very important roles in the growth, development and progress of Lagos and Nigeria through his chain of businesses and philanthropy.

“On behalf of my family and colleagues, I join your friends and associates to wish you a wonderful 84th birthday filled with Allah’s goodness.

“Your name remains etched in gold because of your commitment and passion for a better society. Your philanthropic activities are testaments of your large heart.

“While wishing you a beautiful celebration, I pray Allah continue to grant you good health, divine strength and wisdom at all times,” the Speaker prayed.

Earlier Friday, the Supreme Court had affirmed the judgement of the Court of Appeal Lagos, dismissing the appeal of Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party for lacking in merit.

The five-member panel in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justices Lawal Garba and Adamu Jauro Friday, affirmed the declaration of the APC’s candidate as the winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election, after dismissing two separate appeals challenging his victory.

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party (LP), who came second, and Abdulazeez Adediran popularly known as Jandor of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who came third had challenged the election of Sanwo-Olu on grounds of alleged irregularities, malpractices non-compliance as well as non-qualification.

They had specifically argued that Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, who acquired citizenship of the United States of America, is not qualified to contest elective positions, and as such his nomination was unlawful null, and void.

They also argued that his alleged unlawful nomination affects the qualification of Sanwo-Olu, hence the court should nullify their participation in the governorship election.

However, both the tribunal and the Court of Appeal in their respective decisions dismissed the two appeals for failure to prove allegations made in their petitions.

In its judgment, the Supreme Court held that it had found no cogent reason to deviate from the concurrent judgments of the tribunal and Court of Appeal, which held that Sanwo-Olu was “lawfully elected as Governor of Lagos State.”

The appellate court in a unanimous judgement held that the acquisition of a foreign national does not bar any citizen by birth from contesting election.

Justice Lawal stated that the only condition a citizen with dual citizenship can lose his right to be elected as governor is when he denounces his Nigerian citizenship by birth.

The apex court subsequently dismissed the two appeals for lack of merit.