The Appeal Court in Lagos State has affirmed Governor Alex Otti’s victory in the March 18 governorship election, declaring the electoral process aligned with the Electoral Act’s provisions.
The court dismissed appeals filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC), and their respective governorship candidates, citing the lack of merit in their petitions.
Highlighting that matters regarding political party membership fall under pre-election jurisdiction, the appellate court clarified that such concerns belong within the realm of the political party.
In its judgment, the court emphasized Governor Otti’s eligibility to contest the election, emphasizing his adherence to the process by joining the Labour Party (LP), winning its primary election, and submitting his candidacy to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Additionally, the court pointed out the failure of the PDP and its candidate to effectively present documentary evidence concerning the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), unable to directly link these materials to specific aspects of the case.