The Chairman of the Oyo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Justice Aliyu Mohammad Mayaki, has said the tribunal will not entertain any frivolous petition.
He said the tribunal would not determine any motion or application hastily.
Justice Mayaki spoke yesterday when he resumed duties.
The former Chairman, Justice F.C Obieze, has retired at 65.
Justice Mayaki said: “We will not strike out any petition. We don’t want to be in a hurry. If you rush and strike out petitions and the petitioner appeals, and the appeal says we’re wrong, can we now come back and hear it again?
“We want to be conscious of that and that is the position we have taken. We want to hear all submissions and consider all issues. We also want cooperation from the counsel.”
Senator Rashidi Ladoja of Accord Party claimed that the April 11 governorship election was rigged in favour of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
The four respondents- APC, Ajimobi, Rufus Akeju and the Independent National Electoral Commission- were represented by Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN). Adeboye Shobanjo stood for the third and fourth respondents.
The petitioner’s counsel, Richard Ogunwole, told the tribunal that he had filed some applications and would like to withdraw them.
He said: “The first one was dated July 3 and filed on July 4 for mandatory injunction. Another application which we filed on July 19 for the petitioner’s response sheet, we want to withdraw it because of an error.”
There was no objection from the respondents.
Justice Mayaki granted the request and the applications were withdrawn.
The tribunal adjourned pre-hearing till July 28.