As the tribunal prepares to render judgement, security has been stepped up in Lagos

As the Lagos State Election Petition Tribunal prepares to rule on petitions contesting the election of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, security has been stepped up at the Roseline Omotosho Courthouse in Ikeja.

The applications were filed by Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, a candidate for the Labour Party, and Dr. Abdulazeez Adediran, a candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party in the March 18 governorship election.

Security personnel reportedly took control of the courthouse’s main door and screened visitors before allowing them in, according to The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Many individuals were kept out of the premises by security personnel.

The parties to the case were informed of the judgement date by the tribunal, which is presided over by Justice Arum Ashom, on Saturday.

On August 12, the parties’ solicitors adopted their final written addresses.

In his appeal, Adediran claimed that the governor had given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a fake West African school diploma.

He also charged Hazmat with omitting an oath statement from the INEC Nomination Form EC9.

The APC did not nominate Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat in accordance with the Electoral Act, he continued.

In his appeal, Rhodes-Vivour questioned Hazmat’s ability to run on the grounds that he had purportedly abandoned his Nigerian citizenship and pledged allegiance to the United States.