Ekiti: Tribunal begins sitting, strikes out APC’S application
The Ekiti Election Petition Tribunal yesterday began sitting amidst tight security to commence hearing on the suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the conduct of the June 21 governorship election in the State.
Armed policemen barricaded the dual carriage way that links Fajuyi Park with Basiri side of the capital city while the sitting going on.
Only the chairman of the three-man panel, Justice Mohammad Siraj of the Federal High Court, Jos Division, was available at the inaugural sitting which was brief.
At the brief sitting, the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Siraj, following the request of the petitioners, struck out the motion ex -parte filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow it inspect the materials used for the polls. Mr Kabir Akingbolu, who held brief for Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, represented the APC.
While moving the motion for the withdrawal, counsel to the APC, said the action was informed on the premises that event had overtaken the demand and that the parties that were joined in the application were different from the parties in the substantive petition filed against the respondents.
The APC had on July 11, 2014, in a petition deposed to by its interim chairman, Chief Jide Awe, called for the invalidation of the election based on three grounds.