Rhodes-Vivour remains authentic Lagos LP gov candidate – Legal team

The legal team representing Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes‑Vivour, the Labour Party’s candidate for the March 18 governorship election in Lagos State, maintains that he remains the party’s authentic standard‑bearer. Lead Counsel Mr. Olagbade Benson told reporters in Lagos on Monday that three recent court cases challenging Rhodes‑Vivour’s candidacy have been dismissed.

Benson, accompanied by lawyers Uchechukwu Ani and Kemi Afesojaye, refuted claims made by former Labour Party governorship candidate and Lagos chairman Ifagbemi Awamaridi. Awamaridi alleged that he possessed a substantive case against Rhodes‑Vivour and presented an affidavit purporting to show that the court had certified him as the genuine Labour Party candidate. Benson called the affidavit “fake,” stating it does not reflect any court judgment.

He explained that two judgments—one from the Federal High Court and another from the Appeal Court—affirm Rhodes‑Vivour’s status as the bona fide Labour Party standard‑bearer for the upcoming election. The Federal High Court dismissed the Peoples Democratic Party’s suit against Rhodes‑Vivour for lack of merit. “Anyone parading themselves as the party’s candidate besides Rhodes‑Vivour, or alleging court cases against his candidature, is misleading the public,” Benson said, adding that such claims stem from fear of Rhodes‑Vivour and an attempt to confuse voters before the March 18 poll.

Benson detailed the procedural history of Awamaridi’s actions. An affidavit dated 5 August 2022, titled “Affidavit on non‑withdrawal,” was sent to INEC, asserting that Awamaridi had not stepped down as Labour Party candidate. Subsequently, Awamaridi filed suit in the Federal High Court (No. FHC/ABJ/1463/2022) challenging the candidature of Rhodes‑Vivour and suing INEC, the party, and Rhodes‑Vivour. On 8 December, the Federal High Court struck out the case; the judgment is a public document. Unsatisfied, Awamaridi appealed, but on 2 February 2023 the Appeal Court terminated his case, ruling it was filed out of the time allowed for pre‑electoral matters.

In a separate matter, the PDP’s suit challenging Rhodes‑Vivour’s candidature was also dismissed by the Federal High Court on 8 December 2022, and the opposition party did not pursue the claim after that dismissal.