A witness who appeared at Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Tuesday, Dayo Israel has presented evidence, alleging that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and wife, Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu both voted with invalid voter cards during the concluded gubernatorial election on March 18.
Israel, who served as an agent for the Labour Party at Unit 006, Ward 15, Lagos Island Local Government, provided his account as part of the petition filed by the Labour Party’s candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, challenging the legitimacy of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s victory.
According to Israel, he personally witnessed an irregularity when the card reader indicated that both Sanwo-Olu and his wife possessed invalid voter cards. Despite this, they were allowed to cast their votes, an act which Israel considered a violation of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) electoral process.
“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 testified.
Read MoreDuring cross-examination by INEC counsel, Charles Edosomwan, Israel further alleged that he was assaulted by supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the day of the election. He claimed to have identified them as APC supporters based on their language and stated that they threatened to assault voters who did not vote for APC.
Israel recounted the incident, revealing that four individuals attacked him while voting was underway. However, he managed to escape, changed his clothes to avoid detection, and returned to monitor the vote counting process.
Additionally, the witness raised concerns about multiple voting incidents at the polling unit. He highlighted that INEC officials failed to intervene despite witnessing these irregularities.
However, the hearing on the petition has been adjourned until July 3, when the proceedings will resume.
