* It’s a legal victory, not a moral one — PDP

LAGOS—Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State yesterday, described the Court of Appeal decision to uphold the State Election Petitions Tribunal’s confirmation of his victory at the April 11, 2015 governorship election as a welcome development and a vindication of the people’s mandate.

Agbaje-Ambode

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, Governor Ambode said; “The decision of the Appeal Court is a further testimony to the affirmation of our victory by the Tribunal and a vindication of the mandate of the people as expressed in the April, 11 2015 elections.”

Also reacting to the ruling, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State described the verdict as “a controversial legal victory and not a moral victory”.

The State Election Petitions Tribunal, headed by Justice Mohamed Sijaro, had on July 1, 2015 struck out the petition of the PDP governorship candidate, Mr Jimi Agbaje, against the victory of Mr Ambode of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for incompetence and lack of correlation of the reliefs sought by the petitioner.

Agbaje and the PDP however appealed the judgement of the Tribunal at the Court of Appeal to contest Ambode’s victory and the ruling of the Tribunal.

But the Appeal Court ruling yesterday reaffirmed the verdict of the Tribunal aligning with the July 1, 2015 decision of the Justice Muhammad Sijaro-led tribunal.

The five-man appeal panel, after dismissing Agbaje’s appeal on the grounds of incompetence, ordered him to compensate each of the respondents in the sum of N50, 000 each.

Let’s move Lagos to the next level—Ambode

Calling on the opposition to sheathe their swords and move beyond partisanship, the governor said it is time to join hands with his administration to move Lagos to the next level.

His words: “With the Appeal Court decision, I think it is time for us to put electioneering matters and its attendant issues behind us. Our victory at the polls had earlier been adjudged as fair and square, the Tribunal confirmed this and now the Appeal court has upheld that decision. Isn’t it time for our opponents to sheathe their swords.

“I have never for once doubted the outcome of the polls. We had a most gruelling campaign that took us across the length and breadth of the state. Our party’s strides over the last 16 years was also a scorecard that Lagosians voted for. I’ve consistently maintained my administration’s desire to work with all Lagosian, no matter the party.”

Lagos PDP reacts

In its reaction, the Lagos PDP said “By this development, the APC and Governor Ambode can only celebrate a controversial legal victory and not a moral victory.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Taofik Gani, the party said “The Appeal Court justices identified a loophole of technicality in our petition. They agreed, that but for the identified mistake in couching our petition, the decision would have been different in the circumstance of the Lagos governorship election contest.”

The statement reads in part: “Indeed, the Court of Appeal upheld that the issue of the qualification of Ambode in the election was erroneously dismissed by the Tribunal. This is definitely a confusing judgment. The justices have their conscience to contend with if they have done actual justice in the matter. We will meet with our legal team for further advise and we shall consider all consequential options. An appeal to the Supreme Court is not ruled out.

”In the meantime, we appreciate the people’s support in the period of this hearings. We shall return to our planning room and consolidate our established electoral victory in subsequent elections. We now know the strength and the weakness APC in Lagos State.”