SUPREME COURT AFFIRMS BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU'S ELECTION AS LAGOS STATE GOVERNOR
In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court has upheld the election victory of Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the Governor of Lagos State. Justice Garba Lawal, delivering the lead judgment, dismissed the appeal filed by Mr Rhodes-Vivour.
The crucial aspect of the rulincentreded on the eligibility of the deputy governor, emphasizing that acquiring US citizenship did not disqualify him from contesting the election. Justice Lawal clarified that as long as an individual remains a Nigerian citizen by birth, acquiring the citizenship of another country does not impede their right to participate in elections.
Quoting Section 29 of the constitution, Justice Lawal stated that a person only loses their right to contest an election if they renounce their Nigerian citizenship. The act of pledging allegiance to another country, in this case, the United States, was deemed insufficient to strip the deputy governor of his electoral rights.
This decision not only solidifies the legitimacy of Sanwo-Olu's tenure but also establishes a precedent regarding dual citizenship and its implications on political eligibility. The Supreme Court's meticulous interpretation of constitutional provisions sheds light on the nuanced intersection of citizenship and electoral rights in the country.
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