The Lagos State Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate for 2023, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has closed his arguments against the legitimacy of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s win in the March 18 election on Tuesday.

Rhodes-Vivour is additionally disputing the eligibility of Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hazmat, to run for office, citing allegations that Hazmat renounced his Nigerian citizenship and pledged allegiance to the United States of America.

During the ongoing hearing on Tuesday, the petitioner’s legal representative, Mr. Idowu Benson, informed the governorship election petition tribunal, headed by Arum Ashom and comprising three justices, that the petitioner would be concluding his case.

Throughout the Labour Party candidate’s petition, ten witnesses provided testimony.

Furthermore, the petitioner’s counsel submitted a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the INEC Form EC9, which is an affidavit containing the candidate’s details which was completed by Hamzat and was previously presented by the legal representative of the fourth respondent, All Progressives Congress (APC), during the tribunal proceedings.

Despite objections raised by the counsel representing the four respondents, the tribunal decided to accept the document presented by the petitioner as evidence. The document was marked as Exhibit PE713.

Mr. Noris Quakers (SAN), the counsel for the All Progressives Congress (APC), argued that the Certified True Copy (CTC) submitted by the petitioner had been stored by the first respondent and was not included in the court records.

He said “It’s not a document before this tribunal. It’s only a document signed by the Independent National Electoral Commission that can be tendered.

“We will further argue on why this document should not be admitted in the final written address.” He added.

During the tribunal proceedings, the INEC counsel, Mr. Eric Obigor, expressed his intention to schedule a date to present their defense while commending the petitioner for concluding their case.

In response, the tribunal directed the first respondent to commence their defense on the upcoming adjourned date.

However, the first respondent requested additional time from the court to organize their materials and prepare their case.

In response, Mr. Bode Olanipekun (SAN), the counsel representing Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat, praised the petitioner for concluding their case, suggesting that they should have withdrawn earlier.

It was reported that the proceedings on Monday were delayed due to the health condition of a witness from the Labour Party (LP).

Subsequently, the tribunal decided to adjourn the proceedings until July 5 to allow INEC to present its defense.