The Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has granted Mr. Gbadegbo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party’s candidate for governor, an exparte appeal for a substituted service on Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Through their lawyer, Mr. Olagbade Benson, Rhodes-Vivour and the Labour Party had informed the tribunal that Sanwo-Olu had resisted having the petition served on him by the court’s bailiff.
When the court representative arrived at Sanwo-Olu’s office to serve him, they said that he refused to accept the document from the bailiff.
In the petition number EPT/LAG/GOV/04/2023, they are praying the court to grant them leave to serve the petition and other processes on the governor and his deputy through substituted means, by posting same via DHL courier services or any other recognised courier service company, to the respondent’s official residence at Lagos House, Marina, Lagos.
On April 11, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Candidate, Mr Abdul-Azeez Adediran known as Jandor, and the Labour Party Candidate, Rhodes-Vigour, separately asked the tribunal to nullify Sanwo-Olu’s re-election and declare them the winners.
The petitioners had challenged the outcome of the March 18 Governorship Election in Lagos State which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Sanwo-Olu the winner.
The Lagos State Election Petition Tribunal has received a total of 48 petitions in respect of the 2023 elections held on Feb. 25 and March 11.
The petitions are pasted on the wall of the Rosaline Omotosho Courthouse, Ikeja, venue of the tribunal sitting.