The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Lagos State for the 2023 election, Abubakar Jandor, has requested the transfer of his appeal from the Court of Appeal to Abuja. Jandor said that the transfer would guarantee fairness and objectivity and avoid any court interference.
According to a letter sent to Jandor on October 23, 2022, the same day, a notice was received at the President’s office. The letter read as follows: “Abdul Azeez Olajide ADediran, candidate of the PDP for Lagos State Governorship in 2023, requests the transfer of the hearing of all appeal cases relating to governorship, national and state assembly election arising from tribunal judgments before the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, to the Court of Justice, Abuja Division.
The Court of Appeal in Lagos Division comprises several justices from across the country, sitting in Lagos and Abuja respectively. The Court of Appeal in Abuja also hears appeals relating to election petition cases in the 36 states.
On October 13, Jandor filed a 34-page notice of appeal contesting the September 25 judgment of the state election petition tribunal.
Jandor filed the appeal and his team of lawyers, led by Clement Onwunor ( SAN), INEC officials, Governor Babajide SANWO OLU, his deputy Obafemi HAMZAT, APC, Labour Party, and its candidate Gbadebo ROUSSEBO DOMOUR listed as respondents.
Jandor’s appeal, which is a 38-page document, reiterates the reliefs in his petitions and seeks the disqualification of APC and LP candidates. Jandor further requested the Court to declare that all votes cast for the APC candidates in the election were wasted because they were not eligible to vote.
He also argued that since he obtained the third most votes in the election and met the requirements of the Electoral Act, “T 2022”, he was the validly elected candidate to be declared the winner.
The Court of Appeal should declare that the certificate of return issued to Dr Azeez OlaJide Adediran by INEC is void, and has no effect and that it should be declared that Dr. Azeez Olayinka Adediran is the duly elected Governor of Lagos state.
