LAGOS, NIGERIA – An agent of the Labour Party, Dayo Israel, testified before the Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Monday, June 26, 2023, that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his wife, Ibijoke, were allowed to cast their votes in the March 18, 2023, election despite their voter cards being invalid.
The tribunal, headed by Justice Arum Ashom, is hearing a petition filed by the Labour Party’s candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, which seeks to nullify the return of Governor Sanwo-Olu and his deputy.
Dayo Israel, who was subpoenaed to testify, informed the tribunal that he served as a Labour Party agent for Unit 006, Ward 15, Lagos Island Local Government during the Governorship Election.
Israel claimed that despite the card reader showing the Sanwo-Olu’s voter cards as invalid, they were allowed to cast their votes, which he believes goes against INEC’s electoral process.
During cross-examination, Israel also stated that he was assaulted by supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
“I am not a member of the Labour Party but I was assigned as an agent. When the APC thugs recognized me as an LP agent, they beat me up. They also said if voters did not vote for APC, they would beat them too,” he stated.
He further claimed that he observed cases of multiple voting at the polling unit, with INEC officials allegedly turning a blind eye to these irregularities.
Another witness, Sam Okpala, who is the secretary of the Labour Party in Lagos State, was also subpoenaed to testify before the tribunal.
The tribunal, after hearing the testimonies, ordered the respondents to include their objections in their final written addresses.
The case was then adjourned until July 3, 2023, for continuation of the hearing.
This development adds to the scrutiny of the electoral process in Lagos State and raises concerns about the integrity of the electoral system in Nigeria.
The testimony alleges not only the use of invalid voter cards but also incidents of violence and multiple voting, which are grave violations of the electoral process.
