Ondo election petition tribunal to resist frivolous applications by counsels

The 2019 Election Petition Tribunal for the National and State Assemblies elections in Ondo State has said that the Tribunal would not tolerate frivolous applications by counsels to draw back proceedings.

Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Nuhu Adi who spoke in Akure, the state capital at the inaugural sitting noted that the panel would work in accordance with the mandatory period stipulated by the law.

Justice Adi assured all petitioners and respondents that they would exercise their duties in good faith without any form of bias, adding that all forms of inducement or influence would be resisted.

The chairman of the Tribunal added that hearing of petitions would be done on daily basis including public holidays in order to meet up the 180 days period provided for hearing and determination of each petitions.

He said : ” We therefore solicit the maximum cooperation of all that involved in this exercise , particularly the legal representatives of the parties in all the petitions.

” The hearing of the petitions shall be on a day to day basis , including public holidays in order to meet up with 180 days period provided for the hearing and determination of each petition.

” The parties are hereby enjoined to be ready to work within the mandatory period stipulated by the law.The panel shall remain in absolute and firm control of the court until the exercise is over.

” On this note, the Tribunal shall not condone or allow frivolous applications calculated to draw back the proceedings. Unnecessary application for adjournment of a matter would not be entertained,as undue delay would portray the Tribunal as unserious.

” Any ploy by any counsel to waste the precious time of the Tribunal by engaging in asking irrelevant questions during cross-examination of witnesses shall not be tolerated.

” We assure you that in the quest to get the truth of the matter before us, we shall exercise our judicial function in utmost good faith and we shall work with open mind , without any form of bias. We also pledge not to lend ourselves to any form of influence or inducement.”

Speaking, Kola Olawoye SAN, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice said the Tribunal  must be supported by all stakeholders saying ” they are  handling a very sensitive assignment in our democracy.”

Olawoye assured that members of the Bar would abide by the Tribunal’s guidelines for the determination of all suits in record time.

The seven petitions before the tribunal include that of Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN) against Ajayi Boroffice, APC, INEC over the omission of the party’s logo from the ballot.

Also, Omotadowa Smart Adeuyi of the APC is challenging the victory of PDP’s Akingbaso Festus in Idanre state house of Assembly.

Abayomi Akinfemiwa (PDP) is also challenging the declaration of  Mayowa Akinfolarin(APC) winner of the Ile-Olujo/Oke-Igbo/Odigbo federal constituency.

The victory of Kolade Akinjo (PDP) for Ilaje/Ese-Odo federal constituency is also being challenged at the tribunal by APC’s Donald Ojogo.

Oladapo Abiola (PDP) has also filled a petition challenging the declaration of Wale Williams(APC) as winner of Ondo West Constituency two state constituency election.

A petition has also been filed by Albert Akintoye (APC) against Ikengboju Gboluga(PDP) winner of the House of representatives seat for Okitipupa/Irele federal constituency, while Falana Tajudeen (AA) is challenging the victory of Bankole Felemu (APC) for Akoko South West constituency two.