The National Assembly election petition tribunal in Lagos has nullified the victory of Seyi Sowunmi, a member representing the Ojo federal constituency, in the February election.
The three-member panel led by Abdullahi Ozegya on Thursday declared Lanre Ogunyemi, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the election.
Other members of the panel are Ashu Ewah and Muhammad Sambo.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Sowunmi the winner of the Ojo federal constituency election in Lagos state.
Displeased with the outcome of the election, the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) approached the tribunal with suits challenging the victory of Sowunmi.
According to Channels Television, Ogunyemi had told the tribunal that Sowunmi was not duly sponsored and qualified to contest the elections under the platform of the LP.
On Wednesday, the tribunal, in a unanimous decision, dismissed the suit of Tajudeen Obasa, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, in the constituency, for “lacking merit and frivolous”.
However, on Thursday, the tribunal agreed with the APC candidate that Sowunmi was not duly qualified to contest the election.
The tribunal declared the LP candidate’s votes wasted and ruled that the first runner-up — the APC candidate — ought to be declared as the winner of the Ojo federal constituency election.
Sowunmi is the deputy chairman of the local content committee of the house of representatives.
In July, the election petition tribunal in Asaba, the Delta capital, removed Ngozi Okolie of LP as the lawmaker representing the Aniocha/Oshimili constituency at the house of representatives.
The panel declared Ndudi Elumelu, candidate of the PDP, who was the first runner-up as the winner.
