The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State for the 2023 general elections, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, alias Jandor, has asked that his appeal challenging the electoral victory of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu be transferred from Lagos to Abuja to ensure neutrality.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the tribunal, headed by Justice Arum Ashom, dismissed Adediran’s petition and upheld the re-election of Sanwo-Olu in the March 18 governorship election.
Adediran challenged the verdict at the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal.
However, in a statement signed by the head of his media and communication team, on Monday, Adediran prayed the Court of Appeal President to transfer the case to Abuja.
“Adediran, the first petitioner in the appeal numbered CA/L/EP/GOV/29/2023, hereby requests for the transfer from Lagos Division to Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal for fairness, objectivity,’’ it read.
He said that his request was in line with a directive of the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Dongban-Mensem, allowing the transfer of some appeals.
He noted that Justice Dongban-Mensem allowed the transfer of appeals in 17 states in southern Nigeria to the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal.
He prayed for the transfer of his appeal to the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal.
“This transfer will safeguard neutrality, and equity and discourage interference,’’ he said.
NAN reports that the Lagos State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal also dismissed a petition filed by the Labour Party candidate for the election, Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
