The Court of Appeal in Lagos has affirmed the election of Hon. Seyi Sowunmi as the duly elected member of the House of Representatives for the Ojo Federal Constituency of Lagos State. The court set aside the judgment of the tribunal that had nullified his election on August 24.
Hon. Sowunmi, who contested under the Labour Party, had won the National Assembly election held on February 23, 2023, by a margin of 12,345 votes over his closest rival, Mr. Akinwale Ojo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, Mr. Ojo challenged the outcome of the election at the tribunal, alleging irregularities and malpractices. The tribunal agreed with him and ordered a rerun election in some polling units within the constituency.
Dissatisfied with the tribunal’s decision, Hon. Sowunmi appealed to the Court of Appeal, which delivered its verdict on Thursday, October 19, 2023. The appellate court held that Hon. Sowunmi was validly elected and that there was no evidence to prove the allegations of Mr. Ojo.
In a press release issued after the judgment, Hon. Sowunmi thanked his supporters and constituents for their unwavering and overwhelming support. He also called for unity and cooperation among all residents of Ojo federal constituency, regardless of their political affiliations.
He promised to uphold his campaign promises and to work diligently for the development and progress of his constituency. He said integrity, accountability, and transparency would be the cornerstones of his representation.
Hon. Sowunmi is a lawyer and a human rights activist who has been involved in several community development projects in the Ojo federal constituency. He is also a member of several parliamentary committees in the House of Representatives.
