Lagos Guber Election: Tribunal strikes out Agbaje’s petition against Ambode, APC

The Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ikeja on Wednesday struck out the petition filed by Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State and All Progressives Congress (APC).

Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode

The three-member tribunal, chaired by Justice Muhammad Sirajo, upheld the submission of Mr. Ambode and APC that the petition was incompetent.

Sirajo said: “In the instant petition, apart from an order nullifying the election of the second respondent, the petitioners did not ask for an order of fresh election.

“Where such a prayer is lacking, the petition will be incompetent and academic as even the resolution of such a petition will be incompetent and academic.

“Even the resolution of such a petition in favour of the petitioner will not confer any utilitarian value on the petitioner.

“Where no relief for fresh election is claimed in a petition, a ground founded on Section 138(1)(b) of the Electoral Act and the entire petition itself are incompetent and liable to be struck out.

“So, if for instance, the election is nullified, the people of Lagos State would be left in an anarchic situation as no order can validly be made for the conduct of a fresh election, same having been sought for.