LG Elections: Tribunal Dismisses Councillor’s Petition

Lagos State Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal has dismissed a petition challenging the July 12, 2025, councillorship predetermination successful Ward D (Orire), Amuwo-Odofin section authorities area, for being vague, lacking merit and unsupported by credible evidence.

The petitioners had sought to nullify the predetermination effect for the 2nd respondent, who was elected arsenic a councillor representing the 3rd responsive (APC).

They alleged that the predetermination did not hap successful the 26 polling units and claimed that the 2nd and 3rd Respondents failed to unafraid the bulk of lawful votes cast.

They further argued that the predetermination process violated the Electoral Act (as amended) and the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) Law of 2008.

However, Adedipupo Adewetan, counsel for LASIEC (the 1st Respondent), argued that the petition was based connected hearsay alternatively than factual evidence.

Adewetan submitted that the petitioners’ witnesses (Pw1 and Pw2) admitted during cross-examination that their testimonies were based connected accusation provided by enactment agents. “Yet, those enactment agents were not presented to attest earlier the tribunal.”

He stated, “Allegations of corrupt practices oregon non-compliance indispensable beryllium proven by the 1 who asserts them,” and argued that Pw1 and Pw2, not being polling portion agents, lacked the ineligible capableness to attest astir events astatine polling stations they did not oversee.

He referenced judicial precedents, including Emmanuel v. Umana & Ors (2016) and Ogburu v. Arthur (2016), to enactment his lawsuit and the presumption of regularity nether Section 168 of the Evidence Act, 2011.

Adewetan urged the tribunal to disregard the petition outright, labelling it frivolous and a discarded of judicial resources.

The lawyer besides asked that the tribunal enforce costs connected the petitioners to deter akin baseless suits successful the future.

In delivering its judgment, the tribunal upheld the arguments presented by Adewetan and the different defence counsels. It held that the petitioners failed to substantiate their allegations with credible, cogent, and nonstop evidence, declaring the lawsuit “vague and lacking successful merit.”

The tribunal dismissed the petition and awarded N2.5 cardinal successful costs successful favour of each respondent.