Mr. Segun Sunday Adewale, candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Lagos West Senatorial District, alias Aeroland has filed petition against Idiat Adegbule Oluranti, the former Deputy Governor of Lagos State over alleged submission of forged certificate to the National Independent Electoral Commission, INEC.
The petitioner in his petition marked EPT/LAG/SEN/04/2023 dated March 18, 2023, filed against Oluranti, the All Progressive Congress, APC, and INEC as first to third respondent, alleged that she (Oluranti) was not qualified to contest the election.
According to Adewale, former Deputy Governor, who is the first respondent was at the time of the election, not qualified to contest the election and was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes.
Adewale stated that Oluranti did not possess the educational qualification to contest the election to the Lagos West Senatorial District held on Saturday, February, 25, 2023 conducted by INEC.
He also alleged that 3rd respondent (INEC) did not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
According to the petitioners, “In an attempt to meet the educational qualification requirement to contest the Lagos West Senatorial District conducted on the 25th day of February, 2023, the 1st respondent submitted to the 3rd respondent a Form EC 9, Affidavit in Support of Personal Particulars, whereof in Column C which required her to state the schools she attended beginning with Primary School and educational qualifications with dates, she only indicated that she graduated in 1982 without stating the Primary School she attended.”
Hon. Moshood Adegoke Salvador and his party, Labour Party is also challenging the declaration of Oluranti the winner of the election, on the grounds of multiple thumb printing and ballot stuffing during and after election.
Salvador in his petition marked EPT/LAG/SEN/01/2023 alleged that, “the election was marred by violence, intimidation, fracas, threat, malpractices and ballot boxes snatching, over voting, boycott of the BVAS Machine, mutilation of results from polling units, etc. That the 2nd and 3rd respondent engage in the act of multiple thumb printing and ballot stuffing during and after election.”
He submitted that the entirety of the Lagos Central Senatorial District of Lagos is invalid by reason of substantial non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, INEC Electoral Guidelines and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 Constitution (as amended).