By the provisions of Section 77 (2) & (3) of the Electoral Act 2022, every registered political party (Labour Party inclusive) shall maintain a register of its members in both hard and soft copy and that such a register shall be made available to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not later than 30 days before the date fixed for the party primaries, congress or convention.
It is clear from the provisions of Section 177 (1) (c) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, that a person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a state if (c) he is a member of a political party …’
As at the time the register of members of Labour Party was submitted to the INEC, Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, Labour Party candidate for Lagos State was not a member of the LP. Indeed, he was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he obtained nomination form, attended screening to contest for PDP Gubernatorial ticket which was later won by Jandor.
On the 19th June, 2022, Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour formally applied for deputy governor candidacy to the PDP flag bearer, Jandor, but his application was refused by the PDP Deputy Gubernatorial Candidate Screening Committee (DGSC) Abuja. In the committee’s words …”Gbadebo Rhodes- Vivour as the Lagos State Deputy Governorship candidate portends danger for the PDP due to the fact of presentation of conflicting information on oaths to the INEC in his previous Senatorial election and to the party which are potent grounds for disqualification as enshrined in Section 182 (1) (j) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended”
The Labour Party governorship primary election was conducted and Mr. Ifagbami Awamaridi emerged as its candidate. Having won the primaries, Mr. Awamaridi’s name and particulars were forwarded to the INEC by Labour Party. However, Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour joined the party in July 2022 and on 10th August 2022 he was named LP candidate while Awamaridi’s name was wrongfully substituted. This case is currently in court (Supreme court) and if we all know the principality called Lagos APC godfather, this is landmine that must be avoided. Don’t be shocked when Supreme Court will announce that Labour Party has no candidate in Lagos base on the aforementioned
From the foregoing, it is my candid opinion that by the community reading of provisions of constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended; the Electoral Act 2022 & INEC Guidelines and Party Constitution; votes for Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of Labour Party in Lagos State would become wasted votes as he is not qualified to contest this election. It’s not just enough to blindly ride on the wave created by Mr Peter Obi’s Feb. 25th Election and waste this golden opportunity of rescuing Lagos.
Let’s be wise and choose a better alternative with no constitutional land mines.
Oluwo, Legal Practitioner and Notary Public, writes from Ikeja
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