The victory of Senator Adetokunbo Abiru as the as winner of the Lagos East Senatorial by-election has been upheld by the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
The People’s Democratic Party, PDP had challenged the outcome of the election, asking the court to disqualify Abiru from continuing to represent Lagos East Senatorial District at the National Assembly.
The Supreme Court threw out the PDP’s petition on the basis that the appeal lacked merit.
Justice Adamu Jauro of the Apex court, who wrote the lead judgement, also awarded cost of N1 million against the appellants– the PDP and its candidate Babatunde Gbadamosi–and in favour of each of the respondents, Abiru and the APC.
Recall that Abiru won the last December 5 senatorial bye-election by a landslide, polling 89,204 votes against Gbadamosi’s 11,257 votes.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Chapter of the APC has lauded the judgment of the court.
Seye Oladejo, the spokesman of the party in Lagos said, “We are elated by the ruling of the highest court in the land. It has further enhanced the democratic credentials of our party and our commitment to always present credible candidates for elections within the dictates of the laws of the land.
“We want to congratulate Sen. Tokunbo Abiru on his reaffirmed victory and wish him a successful tenure now that the needless distraction of litigation has been disposed of.”
