The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal yesterday commenced sitting on petitions filed by 5 political parties contesting the result of the September 19 governorship election, which declared Governor Godwin Obaseki as winner.
Obaseki, who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerged winner of the governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), having scored the very best number of votes cast.
The political parties in search of to nullify the victory of Godwin Obaseki include, Action Democratic Party (ADP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
On the inaugural sitting in Benin Metropolis, Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Abdulrazaq Abdulkareem, mentioned they have been dedicated to concluding the 5 petitions earlier than the tribunal inside the stipulated timeframe.
Whereas asking for co-operation from all parties and counsel, he assured that the tribunal would carry out its duties with out prejudice for any party.
Read more: Tribunal Upholds Victory Of Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello, Dismisses SDP’s Petition
In the course of the sitting, the petitioners searched for an ex parte motion for substituted technique of service towards their respective respondents.
Following the petitioners’ applicant movement, the presiding justice granted their orders, and adjourned to Monday, December 7, for pre-hearing course of.
The Justice Abdulkareem-led three-member Election Petitions Tribunal, ordered substituted service on the inaugural sitting, with the petitions and processes to be posted on the wall of PDP’s state secretariat and Authorities Home, Benin, whereas the pre-hearing sitting would maintain on December 7 for the 5 petitions.
The sitting passed off on the Edo State High Court complicated on Sapele Road, Benin, with the tribunal having 180 days from the date of submitting the petitions to conclude listening to within the issues and deliver judgments, which is able to drag to the first week of April subsequent yr.
Chairman of the tribunal which has two males and one female judge, in his inaugural speech, pledged to keep away from exterior affect and to behave in good religion.
Justice Abdulkareem mentioned: “As you’re very a lot conscious, our task is time sure. As such, we wouldn’t have the luxurious of time. With the assistance of God Almighty, the tribunal is dedicated to finish its work on the 5 petitions filed earlier than it, inside the timeframe allowed for it to finish its task.
“We, due to this fact, solicit the utmost cooperation of all of the events and their counsel, and urge you all to be able to work inside the obligatory interval stipulated by regulation.
“We want to guarantee you that in our quest to get to the reality of the issues earlier than us, we will act in good religion, and shall do our work with open thoughts, with none type of bias or look of any pre-conception. We additionally pledge to not lend ourselves to any type of exterior affect.”
