The opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Lagos State has faulted the ruling of an Appeal Court sitting in Lagos today which upheld the victory of the All Progressives Congress, APC Governorship candidate, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode. The PDP described the judgment as confusing.
The Spokesman of the PDP in Lagos, Mr Taofeek Gani in a statement issued shortly after the ruling said, “The Appeal Court justices identified a loophole of technicality in our petition. They agreed, that but for the identified mistake in couching our Petition, the decision would have been different in the circumstance of the Lagos governorship election contest.
“Indeed, the Court of Appeal upheld that the issue of the qualification of Ambode in the governorship election was erroneously dismissed by the Tribunal. This is definitely a confusing judgment.
“The justices have their conscience to contend with if they have done actual justice in the matter. We will meet with our legal team for further advice and we shall consider all consequential options. An appeal to the Supreme Court is not ruled out,” Gani said in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
“In the meantime, we appreciate the people’s support in the period of this hearings. We shall return to our planning room and hopefully consolidate our established electoral victory in subsequent elections. We now know the strength and the weakness APC in Lagos State,”
Meanwhile, Ambode boasted he was not surprised by the ruling of the appellate Court stressing that it was a confirmation of the Peoples’ mandate freely given him at the polls.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, the Governor in his reaction to the Appeal Court ruling, said “the decision of the Appeal Court is a further testimony to the affirmation of our victory by the Tribunal and a vindication of the mandate of the people as expressed in the April 11, 2015 elections.”
“With the Appeal Court decision, I think it is time for us to put electioneering matters and its attendant issues behind us. Our victory at the polls had earlier been adjudged as fair and square, the Tribunal confirmed this and now the Appeal court has upheld that decision. Isn’t it time for our opponents to sheath their swords?.
“I have never for once doubted the outcome of the polls. We had one of the most gruelling campaigns that took us across the length and breadth of the state. Our party’s strides over the last 16 years was also a scorecard that Lagosians voted for. I have consistently maintained my administration’s desire to work with every Lagosian, no matter the party,” he said.
It will be recalled that the State Election Petitions Tribunal headed by Justice Mohamed Sirajo had on July 1, 2015 struck out the petition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Mr Jimi Agbaje, against the victory of Mr Akinwunmi Ambode of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for incompetence and lack of correlation of the reliefs sought by the petitioner.
Agbaje and the PDP, however, appealed the judgement of the Tribunal at the Court of Appeal to contest Governor Ambode’s victory and the ruling of the Tribunal.
But the Appeal Court ruling today affirmed the verdict of the Tribunal aligning with the July 1, 2015 decision of the Justice Muhammad Sirajo-led tribunal.
The five-man appeal panel, after dismissing Agbaje’s appeal on the grounds of incompetence, ordered him to compensate each of the respondents in the sum of N50, 000 each.
The leadership of the Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described the Appeal Court’s ruling which upheld the victory of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in the last April governorship election as controversial.
PDP’s Lagos Publicity Secretary, Taofik Gani said by this development, the All Progressives Congress, APC and Governor Ambode could only celebrate a controversial legal victory and not a moral victory.
“The Appeal Court justices identified a loophole of technicality in our petition. They agreed, that but for the identified mistake in couching our Petition, the decision would have been different in the circumstance of the Lagos governorship election contest.
“Indeed, the Court of Appeal upheld that the issue of the qualification of Ambode in the governorship election was erroneously dismissed by the Tribunal. This is definitely a confusing judgment.
“The justices have their conscience to contend with if they have done actual justice in the matter. We will meet with our legal team for further advice and we shall consider all consequential options. An appeal to the Supreme Court is not ruled out,” Gani said in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
“In the meantime, we appreciate the people’s support in the period of this hearings. We shall return to our planning room and hopefully consolidate our established electoral victory in subsequent elections. We now know the strength and the weakness APC in Lagos State,” he added.
