Members
of the Osun State chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, on Thursday
stormed the premises of election petition tribunal sitting in Osogbo, the state
capital, to protest the sudden disbandment of the panel.
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Armed
with placards carrying different inscriptions, Barrister Niyi Owolade, a PDP
chieftain, who addressed newsmen on behalf of the people expressed dismay over
the development.
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Owolade
explained that the party filed a petition on Tuesday, in which the Independent
National Electoral Commission, INEC, the Governor-elect, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola
and the All Progressives Congress, APC, were joined as respondents.
He
further explained that while the first respondent, INEC had been served,
Oyetola and his party have declined service, which compelled them to file an
application for substituted service.
The
former Osun State Attorney General said they were taken aback on Thursday
morning when officials of the tribunal informed them that the tribunal has been
disbanded without giving any reason for such action and without evidence of
constituting another soon.
“While
we have been able to serve the first respondent, the second and the third
respondents declined service so, we brought an application here yesterday for
substituted service.
“The
application was to have been heard 9 a.m. this morning but we were surprised
when we heard that the panel has been disbanded. What is even more surprising
is that they disbanded a panel without replacement.
“We
all know that election petition matters are sui jeneris, our 180days started
counting from 16th October, and section 285, sub-section 6 of the 1999
constitution is clear about that.
“By
the 180 days duration, final judgement on this matter is to be delivered on or
before April 15, 2019, and time is of essence.
“We
are surprised that the President of the Appeal Court, who is saddled with the
responsibility of constituting election tribunal has not deemed it fit to have
put in place a new panel,” he said.
Owolade
demanded immediate constitution of the panel in order to continue with the
process without delay.
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He
stressed that there must never be any vacuum in the pattern of constituting
election panel, adding that the people are seriously yearning for justice.
“We
are presently in limbo because time is of essence, we want a new panel to be
put in place immediately to continue the process, we are appealing to the
president of Appeal Court to do the needful”.
Scooper
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