Adediran rejects Sanwo-Olu’s call for support as LP kicks

Explain discrepancies in your credentials first, PDP candidate tells governor
Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2023 guber election in Lagos State, Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran, has challenged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to publicly present his original West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) certificate.

Adediran also urged the governor to clear the air on the discrepancies in the statement of result he presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which, he alleges, is different from the master list WAEC tendered in court, before he can consider his call for collaboration or support.

Adediran also asked Sanwo-Olu to explain the discrepancies between the two different WAEC results and his graduate and postgraduate degrees certificates, which allegedly amounts to credentials of three different persons.

In a statement signed by the Head, Media and Communications, JANDOR4GOVERNOR Campaign Organisation, Gbenga Ogunleye, Adediran was responding to the call made by Sanwo-Olu to the opposition parties in the March 18 election to join hands with his government.

Adediran maintained that the legitimacy of the Sanwo-Olu led state government would remain questionable until the allegations of forgery and perjury levied against him are cleared and justice is seen to have been served.

Sanwo-Olu had, in a statement after the ruling of the State Gubernatorial Election Petition Tribunal, declared in his favour, expressed his readiness to sit with opposition parties’ candidates that contested against him and have conversation around ways they can channel their ideas into the development of the state.

Adediran said: “I can only sit down with Sanwo-Olu if he can show Lagosians his original WAEC certificate and also clear the air on the discrepancies in his purported WAEC statement of result submitted to INEC, the master list tendered in court by WAEC as well as that of his first and second degrees.”

He, however, assured residents of Lagos that his next line of action in the quest to offer a breath of fresh air in governance would be unveiled shortly after studying the judgment of the election tribunal.

ALSO, reacting to the tribunal’s judgment, the Labour Party and its governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, in a statement signed by the party’s Lagos State Publicity Secretary, Olubunmi Odesanya, titled: ‘Judgment of the Lagos State Gubernatorial Election Petition Tribunal: Labour Party’s stand,’ urged its supporters to be calm.

“We listened to the judgment of the Lagos State election Tribunal delivered yesterday (Monday), September 25, with utmost dismay and urged our teeming supporters to remain calm while we pursue the next line of action.

“As law-abiding citizens, our candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and the Labour Party Lagos State have instructed our legal team to review the judgment with a view to appealing the same at the appellate court.”

“Our firm belief is that the Labour Party won the election in spite of the harassment, intimidation and harm done to our members and supporters across the state. This delayed justice will be rightfully regained at the fullness of time. Our party will explore all legal means at righting the wrong done to the majority of Lagosians. We appreciate your steadfastness and support as we continue in our pursuit for justice.”

On his part, Jandor said it was unfortunate that the tribunal refused to accept credible and convincing evidence presented by his legal team on the non-qualifications of the APC and the LP candidates in the election.

In a statement signed by his Head, Media and Communications, Gbenga Ogunleye, Adediran said the decision of the tribunal does not reflect the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral act 2022 on issues bothering on qualification of a candidate in an election.

He, however, assured the people of the state that Lagos PDP would study the judgment and decide on the next step to be taken.