Osun governorship election tribunal adjourns hearing to next week
THE Osun State governorship election Petitions Tribunal, hearing the petition of governor adegboyega Oyetola against the declaration of ademola adeleke as the governor-elect, on Monday, adjourned its sitting to October 4 for the proper commencement of pre-hearing.
The tribunal adjourned its sitting to give the independent National electoral Commission (inec), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and ademola adeleke, seven days to respond to the tribunal’s pre-hearing form.
Businessday reports that there was a heavy presence of security personnel at the State High Court, sitting in Osogbo, where the governorship election Petition Tribunal comprising a three-man panel sat.
The State Police Command deployed an armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and several police vans which were strategically positioned in front of the court to maintain law and order.
inec had declared adeleke, candidate of PDP as the winner of the election and pronounced him governorelect. However, Oyetola went to the tribunal to challenge the outcome of the poll.
at the sitting of the tribunal on Monday, counsel for the all Progressives Congress (APC), Kayode Olagoke (SAN) had informed the court of his readiness to continue with pre-hearing session, having filed his form TF008, where issues for determination were raised.
On the request of the tribunal for advice, Olagoke suggested that the matter should be stand down for few hours for the respondents to also respond to the tribunal pre-hearing form.
Counsel for the inec, Paul ananaba (SAN), said the pre-hearing could not go on because he was just served with the pre-hearing form on Monday morning, saying statutorily, they have seven days to respond.
also Bamidele abolarin, counsel for adeleke, and Nathaniel Oke (SAN), counsel representing PDP, also requested the tribunal to give them the required seven days to respond.
in his ruling, Justice Tertsea Kume, hairman of the tribunal, adjourned the matter till Tuesday, October 4 for the commencement of hearing.