How Sanwo-Olu, Wife Voted With Invalid Voter Cards In 2023 Elections – Labour Party Witness

Eko Hot Blog reports that Dayo Israel, a witness at the Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, on Monday, testified that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his wife, Ibijoke, were allowed to vote despite their invalid voter cards.

The tribunal heard the witness in the petition brought against Sanwo-Olu, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), by Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the March 18 governorship election.

Rhodes-Vivour came a distant second to the APC candidate in the election according to figures released by INEC.

The LP candidate is asking the tribunal to nullify the reelection of Governor Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat.

During Monday’s proceedings at the tribunal, the witness, Isreal, was summoned to testify in the matter.

Isreal, under the examination of Rhodes-Vivour’s lead counsel, Olumide Ayeni, stated that he served as an agent for the LP in Unit 006, Ward 15, Lagos Island Local Government during the Governorship Election.

He reported that the card reader showed that Sanwo-Olu and his wife’s cards were invalid, but they were allowed to vote, which contradicted the electoral guidelines of INEC.

During cross-examination by INEC’s counsel, Charles Edosomwan, Isreal claimed that he was assaulted by some APC supporters on that day.

He stated that he recognised them as APC supporters from their speech.

Isreal said, “I am not a member of the Labour Party, but I was assigned as an agent. When the APC thugs recognized me as an LP agent, they beat me up. They also threatened to beat up voters who did not vote for the APC.”

When questioned by Sanwo-Olu’s counsel, Muiz Banire, about the assault, Isreal explained, “During the voting process, four of them attacked me. I escaped, changed my clothes to disguise myself, and returned to monitor the vote counting.”

Isreal also highlighted instances of multiple voting, with individuals casting their votes more than once, but INEC officials failed to intervene.

He said, “I observed more than 3-4 people voting more than once at the polling unit. Although INEC staff conducted the elections, they turned a blind eye to this misconduct.”

Under the examination of APC’s counsel, Abiodun Owonikoko, Isreal disclosed that 126 people were accredited at the polling unit where Governor Sanwo-Olu voted, with the APC receiving 121 votes and the Labour Party obtaining 2 votes.

Another witness, Sam Okpala, the secretary of the Labour Party in Lagos State, was also subpoenaed and testified before the tribunal.

The petitioner’s counsel, Folagbade Benson, presented the subpoena through Okpala, which led to objections from the respondents.

The tribunal acknowledged the objections but proceeded to hear Okpala’s testimony, instructing the respondents to include their objections in their final written addresses.

During cross-examination by INEC’s counsel, Okpala stated that he would not have appeared before the tribunal if he had not been subpoenaed and clarified that he had never provided a written statement.

The tribunal adjourned the hearing in the petition until July 3 for further proceedings.