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Lagos Governorship Election: Gov Sanwo-Olu, Wife Voted With Invalid Voters Cards, Witness Tells Tribunal
There are allegations that Lagos state Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his wife, Ibijoke were allowed to cast their votes, despite their voter cards being invalid.
The testimony was given by an agent of the Labour Party, Dayo Isreal who was subpoenaed to testify in the petition filed by Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party’s candidate, in the March 18 election, seeking to nullify the return of Gov. SanwoOlu and his deputy.
A witness on Monday told the Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal headed by Justice Arum Ashom.
While being led in evidence by the Rhodes-Vivour’s lead counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olumide Ayeni, the witness told the court that he served as an agent for the Labour Party for Unit 006, Ward 15, Lagos Island Local Government in the Governorship Election.
” 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,” Israel said before the tribunal
Under cross-examination from counsel to INEC, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Charles Edosomwan, the witness also claimed he was beaten up that day by some All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters and that he knew they were APC supporters from the way they spoke.
“I am not a member of the Labour Party but I was assigned as an agent. When the APC thugs recognised me as an LP agent, they beat me up. They also said if voters did not vote for APC, they would beat them too,” he said
When asked by counsel to Governor Sanwo Olu Olu & his deputy, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Muiz Banire, to describe how he was beaten.
He added, “During casting of votes, 4 of them beat me up. I ran away, changed my clothes to disguise myself and came back to monitor the counting of votes.
He also noted that there were cases of multiple casting of votes but INEC officials failed to intervene
“I observed more than 3-4 people voting more than once at the polling unit. INEC staff conducted the elections, though they looked the other way when this was going on.”
While answering questions from counsel to APC, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Abiodun Owonikoko, the witness disclosed that a total number of 126 people were accredited at the polling unit where Governor Sanwo -Olu voted while APC had 121 votes, LP was given 2votes.
Additionally another subpoenaed witness, the secretary of the Labour Party in Lagos State, Sam Okpala, also testified before the tribunal
Led by counsel to the petitioner, Folagbade Benson, the subpoena was tendered to the tribunal through the witness, a situation which led to another round of objections from the respondents.
The tribunal in its ruling noted the objections of the respondents but proceeded to hear the testimony of the witness while ordering the respondents to include their objections in their final written addresses.
The witness, while being cross-examined by INEC’s counsel, said he would not have appeared before the tribunal if he was not subpoenaed, adding that he never wrote a statement.
The tribunal has adjourned till July 3 for the continuation of the hearing in the petition.
News
LASG Fixes Last Saturdays Monthly Environmental Sanitation 6:30 am – 8:30 am
In a statement on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed that the exercise is set to resume on Saturday, April 25, 2026, with movement restrictions and enforcement measures in place.
• Tokunbo Wahab
The Lagos State government declared that environmental sanitation exercise will hold every last Saturday of the month between the hours of 6:30 am and 8:30 am.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed that the exercise is set to resume on Saturday, April 25, 2026, with movement restrictions and enforcement measures in place.
“During this period, there will be controlled movement across the state to allow residents to carry out thorough cleaning of their homes, surroundings and drainage frontages,” he’s said.
He stated that enforcement teams comprising officials of the ministry, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, Kick Against Indiscipline, Lagos Waste Management Authority, and local government sanitation inspectors would “conduct physical inspections during and after the sanitation window to ensure compliance.
“Defaulters will be sanctioned in accordance with the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017,” he warned.
Wahab added that LAWMA intervention trucks will go around to cart away bagged wastes generated during the exercise,” noting that “there will be rewards for the cleanest Local Government Area, Local Council Development Area, and the cleanest street as part of efforts to encourage healthy competition and community participation.”
The alleged coup plotters in Nigeria’s foiled treason scheme will be arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik at the Federal High Court at noon This Wednesday.
The Attorney-General’s office confirmed the development moments ago.
On Monday, the federal government filed charges under FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026, signed by the Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, accusing retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani of conspiring in 2025 to “levy war against the state” and overthrow the President—punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
The charges also allege they shared over N71 million for terrorism financing, failed to report prior knowledge of a treasonable plot by one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others, and neglected to prevent it. Former Minister of State for Petroleum Timipre Sylva is named but remains at large.
In Count One, the defendants are accused of conspiring with others sometime in 2025 in Abuja to levy war against the state in order to overthrow Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu — an offence punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
Subsequent counts allege that the accused knew of an impending act of treason and terrorism by Colonel Ma’aji and others but failed to disclose it to the relevant authorities, in violation of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Particularly damning are the money laundering and terrorism financing counts.
Abdulkadir Sani, a Zaria-based cleric, is accused of indirectly retaining N2,000,000 in a Jaiz Bank account, while Bukar Kashim Goni allegedly retained N50 million in his First Bank account.
Zekeri Umoru faces charges of accepting N10 million in cash from Colonel Ma’aji and retaining nearly N8.8 million in a Zenith Bank account — all sums reasonably suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing.
Following extensive consultations, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has officially nominated Murtala Sule Garo for the position of Deputy Governor, transmitting his name to the State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.
The nomination, announced Wednesday, April 22, 2026, by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mustapha Muhammad, fills the vacancy created by the voluntary resignation of former Deputy Governor Comrade Abdussalam Gwarzo on March 27, 2026.
Garo, a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, was selected from a list of three nominations submitted by stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) legacy group, led by former National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.
The other nominees included Alhassan Rurum and former Secretary to the State Government, Sulaiman Bichi.
The 48-year-old nominee is recognized as a seasoned political administrator with over two decades of experience in elective and appointed positions.
This development follows intense political realignment in the state, aimed at strengthening internal party cohesion and securing effective governance.
Supreme Court postpone ruling on ADC’s leadership disputes
LASG Fixes Last Saturdays Monthly Environmental Sanitation 6:30 am – 8:30 am
JUST IN: Alleged Coup Plotters Set for Arraignment at Noon Wednesday
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