All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos has challenged the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, to substantiate his allegation questioning the eligibility of the APC candidate, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, over an alleged United States oath of allegiance.
Spokesman of the party in the state, Mogaji Seye Oladejo, on Wednesday, described Rhodes-Vivour’s latest intervention as a resurrection of an issue that had already featured in the legal challenge to the 2023 Lagos governorship election.
Oladejo said while questions about the constitutional eligibility of political candidates were legitimate, such issues should be determined through the appropriate legal institutions rather than political statements.
According to him, Rhodes-Vivour had himself acknowledged that the issue formed part of his legal team’s case during the 2023 election litigation.
He also drew attention to the reported testimony of an immigration lawyer involved in the earlier proceedings, saying her area of expertise was United States immigration law and that she was not familiar with the relevant provisions of the Nigerian Constitution on dual citizenship.
Oladejo argued that a claim or testimony relating to foreign immigration law should not automatically be interpreted as a judicial determination that a Nigerian citizen is constitutionally barred from contesting an election.
‘An allegation is not a judgment,’ he said, adding that if Rhodes-Vivour had uncovered a new and legally decisive fact, the appropriate avenue was to present it before the courts or other competent constitutional authorities.
The APC spokesman said the party had no objection to legitimate scrutiny of its candidate, insisting that the facts and applicable law should determine the matter.
‘The APC’s position is straightforward: bring the facts, bring the law, and let the competent authorities pronounce,’ he said.
Oladejo, however, shifted the focus to the broader political contest, arguing that the 2027 governorship election should provide Lagosians with competing policy options rather than a continuation of the disputes surrounding the 2023 election.
He challenged opposition candidates to explain how they would address transportation, housing, infrastructure, employment, healthcare, education, security and environmental challenges confronting Lagos.
He said the electorate should also be told how proposed programmes would be financed and implemented.
‘Lagosians deserve policy alternatives. They deserve measurable programmes,’ Oladejo said.
He urged Rhodes-Vivour to present his policy agenda and explain what he would do differently if elected governor, rather than concentrating primarily on criticisms of Hamzat.
The APC spokesman said the party was prepared to defend its own record and programme while allowing voters to assess the competing positions of the candidates.
He maintained that any genuine constitutional question concerning Hamzat’s eligibility should be left to the appropriate legal authorities, stressing that political repetition could not substitute for judicial determination.
‘2027 is not 2023. The future of Lagos cannot be built by endlessly litigating the past,’ Oladejo said.
He urged Rhodes-Vivour to bring forward both his legal and political cases, adding that while the former should be settled by the courts, the latter should be presented directly to Lagos voters.