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Lagos State Governor-elect, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday turned in his defence to the two petitions filed by candidates of Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Labour Party (LP), Owolabi Salis, and Prof. Ifagbemi Awamaridi, challenging his declaration as winner of the March 9, 2019 gubernatorial election in the state.
Sanwo-Olu, who appeared alongside his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, and other All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains, including former Minister of State for Defence, Chief Demola Seriki, at the Lagos State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Ikeja, submitted the response through his counsel, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN).
The governor-elect though hopeful of victory at the tribunal, added that it was entirely the panel’s exclusive decision to determine the merit or otherwise of petitions.
His words: “What we came here to do is to put an official deposition to the challenge by two gubernatorial candidates. We are certainly confident because Lagosians have spoken. The people went out on March 9 to cast their votes.
“It was devoid of any form of incident. There was none reported officially. We trust that the tribunal will do its job well and Lagosians will be happy. It is a process that all of us must submit ourselves to. That is why we are here today (yesterday).”
He therefore pledged that his administration would undertake judicial reforms for speedy administration of justice.
“Lagos has championed judicial reforms in the last 20 years, and my administration will not be different. We will still take bold steps to better the entire process because we understand the importance of the sector,” Sanwo-Olu added.
His lawyer, Owonikoko, also expressed confidence in his client’s case.
He said: “We are working based on the facts on ground. We have been able to review the two petitions, and we are in no doubt that we have sufficient and credible answers to all the allegations.
“Until now, His Excellency (Sanwo-Olu) was not served any petition. The APC was served but he personally came to the tribunal today (yesterday) to sign for his own process.
“Immediately he signed, he filed a reply. This is to show that we are prepared for these petitions, and we have no problem about the eventual outcome.”