The Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has granted an ex parte application filed by the Labour Party’s governorship candidate, Mr. Gbadegbo Rhodes‑Vivour, for substituted service on Governor Babajide Sanwo‑Olu. Rhodes‑Vivour and the Labour Party, through counsel Mr. Olagbade Benson, informed the tribunal that Sanwo‑Olu evaded service of the petition by the court’s bailiff. They alleged that the governor refused to collect the documents when the bailiff arrived at his office.
In petition number EPT/LAG/GOV/04/2023, the applicants seek leave to serve the petition and related processes on the governor and his deputy by substituted means—specifically, by posting the documents via DHL or any other recognized courier service to the respondents’ official residence at Lagos House, Marina, Lagos.
On 11 April, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Mr. Abdul‑Azeez Adediran (known as Jandor), and the Labour Party candidate, Rhodes‑Vivour, each asked the tribunal to nullify Sanwo‑Olu’s re‑election and declare them the winners. The petitioners had challenged the outcome of the 18 March governorship election in Lagos State, which the Independent National Electoral Commission had declared in Sanwo‑Olu’s favour.
The Lagos State Election Petition Tribunal has received a total of 48 petitions concerning the 2023 elections held on 25 February and 11 March. The petitions are displayed on the wall of the Rosaline Omotosho Courthouse in Ikeja, the venue of the tribunal’s sittings.
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