The 2023 Lagos State Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, formally closed his case on Tuesday challenging the victory of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the March 18 election. Rhodes-Vivour is also contesting the eligibility of Deputy Governor Obafemi Hazmat, asserting that Hazmat renounced his Nigerian citizenship and pledged allegiance to the United States of America.
During the resumed hearing before the governorship election petition tribunal, Rhodes-Vivour’s counsel, Mr. Idowu Benson, informed the three-justice tribunal headed by Arum Ashom that the petitioner was closing his case. In support of his case, ten witnesses had testified on behalf of the Labour Party candidate.
The counsel also submitted a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the INEC Form EC9, an affidavit containing the particulars of a candidate, which was allegedly filled out by Hamzat and presented to the tribunal by the counsel for the fourth respondent, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
All the counsels representing the four respondents objected to the admissibility of the document presented by the petitioner. However, the tribunal admitted the document into evidence, marking it as Exhibit PE713.
The APC counsel, Mr. Noris Quakers (SAN), argued that the CTC tendered by the petitioner was not part of the court records as it was still being warehoused by the first respondent, and thus, could not be considered. Quakers further stated, “It’s only a document signed by the Independent National Electoral Commission that can be tendered. We will further argue on why this document should not be admitted in the final written address.”
Mr. Eric Obigor, counsel to the INEC, stated that they would select a date to present their defense and commended the petitioner for closing his case.
The tribunal ordered that the first respondent, Governor Sanwo-Olu, should present his defense on the next adjourned date. However, the governor’s counsel requested more time to put their house in order.
On his part, counsel to Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat, Mr. Bode Olanipekun (SAN), praised the petitioner for closing their case and expressed that they should have taken this wise retreat earlier.
It is worth noting that the proceedings were adjourned on Monday due to the ill health of the LP witness. The tribunal will reconvene on July 5 for INEC to present its defense.
![Davido flaunts 'Chioma' tattoo on his body [VIDEO]](https://mediatalkafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Davido-Flaunts-Chioma-Tattoo-Ahead-of-37M-Miami-Wedding-230x300.jpeg)
