Dayo Israel, a witness, told the Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, presided over by Justice Arum Ashom, that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his wife, Ibijoke, were permitted to vote using invalid voter cards.
Dayo Isreal, the Labour Party, LP, agent, was called to testify in the petition filed by the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the March 18 2023 election, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, to overturn Governor SanwoOlu’s return.
Israel revealed the court that he functioned as an agent for the Labour Party in Unit 006, Ward 15, Lagos Island Local Government in the election while being led in evidence by Rhodes-Vivour’s senior counsel, Olumide Ayeni SAN.
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He said, ”I observed that the card reader showed their cards to be invalid but Sanwo-Olu and his wife were allowed to cast their votes and this is against INEC’s electoral process.”
Under cross-examination by INEC counsel, Charles Edosomwan, SAN, the witness also said he was beaten up that day by All Progressives Congress, APC supporters.
“I’m not a Labour Party member but I was assigned as an agent. When the APC thugs recognised me as the party’s agent, they beat me up. And also threatened to beat voters if they did not vote for APC.”
When Governor Sanwo-Olu’s attorney, Muiz Banire, SAN, asked him to detail how he was beaten. “Four of them beat me up during the voting,” Israel alleged. I fled, changed my clothes to conceal myself, and returned to supervise the vote counting.”
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Similarly, another subpoenaed witness, Sam Okpala, State Secretary of the Labour Party in Lagos, testified before the tribunal, led by counsel for the petitioner, Folagbade Benson. The subpoena was tendered before the court through the witness, prompting another round of objections from the respondents.
The Tribunal noted the respondents’ objections in its ruling but proceeded to hear the witness’ testimony while ordering the respondents to include their objections in their final written addresses.
The Court, however, adjourned the continuation of the hearing in the petition till July 3.
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