The Election Petition Tribunal hearing the dispute arising from the June 18, 2022 governorship election in Ekiti State has concluded the pre-hearing formalities paving the way for the full hearing of the petition challenging the election of the Governor-elect, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji.

The Tribunal at its sitting on Friday presided over by its Chairman, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, presented the Pre-Hearing Report to parties in the petition pursuant to Paragraph 18 (10) of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act, 2022, to guide further proceedings in the petition.

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The Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Chief Segun Oni, who came second at the poll and aggrieved with the result announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is challenging the victory of Mr. Oyebanji who ran on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the governorship poll before the three-member panel of judges. Pronouncing the decision of the Tribunal, Justice Kpochi said the guidelines to for guide proceedings for the full trial were rolled out after considering the areas of agreements by lawyers to parties before it and various answers to the pre-trial information sheet submitted by them.

Respondents in the petition marked EPT/EKT/GOV/02/2022 are Mr. Oyebanji (1st), APC (2nd), Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, in his capacity as the National Chairman, APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (3rd), INEC (4th) and the Deputy Governor-elect who was Mr. Oyebanji’s running mate at the poll, Mrs. Monisade Afuye (5th). Lawyers to parties in the petition during the pre-trial had agreed on procedures which was communicated to the Tribunal on their behalf by lead counsel to Mr. Oyebanji, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).