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Tag: Ondo tribunal

  • Ondo Tribunal to hear objections

    The Ondo State National and House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal has ruled that the preliminary objection filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Akure South Constituency II, David Olajide, will be heard with the substantive petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Olajide’s counsel Charles Titiloye said his client’s name is Olajide but the PDP called him Oladimeji in several parts of its petition.

    He said the PDP’s application for amendment of the petition amounted to substitution of names.

    Titiloye insisted that his application challenging the competence of the petition be heard with motion for amendment filed by PDP counsel Remi Olatubora.

    Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who represented the APC, urged the Tribunal to hear both applications together.

    The tribunal granted Olatubora’s application to inspect electoral materials used in Owo constituency and Akure Constituency.

    The tribunal accepted the respondents’ counsel request to be present during the inspection of document by the PDP.

    It adjourned till Monday for continuation of the pre-hearing.

     

  • Ondo tribunal rules today

    Ondo tribunal rules today

    The Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Akure, the state capital, will today rule on the petitions of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN); its candidate, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Olusola Oke.

    Yesterday, Akeredolu urged the Commissioner of Police, Patrick Dokumor, to tighten security at the tribunal and in Owo, his hometown.

    In a petition signed by his counsel, Mr. Titiloye Charles, Akeredolu alleged plans by thugs loyal to the Labour Party (LP) to attack him and his supporters at the tribunal and in Owo.

    He urged the commissioner to take “pre-emptive steps to protect the life and property of residents, during and after the tribunal’s sitting”.

    Also yesterday, the police assured residents of security during and after the tribunal’s sitting.

    It said it has adequate manpower to maintain peace in the state.

    In a statement by its spokesman, Wole Ogodo, the police urged the politicians to accept the tribunal’s judgment with the spirit of sportsmanship.

    The command said it would deal ruthlessly with anybody, who tries to foment trouble.

    The atmosphere was calm in Akure yesterday and security men were not in the streets.

    Politicians gathered in various places speculating about what the tribunal’s judgment would be.

    It was gathered that some groups have bought the clothes they would wear to celebrate, if their candidate and party emerges victorious.

    Though security agencies have not made any announcement on the traffic arrangement, it is expected that traffic would be diverted from the ever busy Hospital Road as was done during the hearing of the petitions.

  • Ondo Tribunal: SSS bars CPC candidate from court

    Men of the State Security Service (SSS) yesterday barred the candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the last governorship poll in Ondo State, Prince Soji Ehinlanwo, from entering the court where the Election Petition Tribunal was sitting.

    Ehinlanwo is among the four petitioners challenging the re-election of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party (LP).

    He led state executives of the party to the court premises, but was prevented from entering the court by men of the SSS.

    This led to an uproar between the security operatives and CPC supporters, who alleged that the security men were selective in their screening and favoured LP members.

    It took the intervention of senior officials at the tribunal before Ehinlanwo and the party executives were allowed into the court.

    Speaking with The Nation, Ehinlanwo condemned the attitude of the SSS men.

    He said: “I introduced myself and the party executives to the SSS man at the entrance and he refused to allow us into the court, even though I am one of the petitioners. He could not give a reason for his action. I asked if he would have stopped me if I was the governor.

    “The SSS official showed that he is partisan because two minutes before my arrival, the State LP Chairman, Mr. Olu Ogidan, was ushered into the court. I think the State SSS Director should take a proactive step on this by placing experienced personnel in this sensitive position to prevent a recurrence.”

    Last week, the Head of News and Current Affairs of Adaba FM, a private radio station in Akure, Mr. Jide Ogunluyi, was barred by security officials from covering the tribunal’s proceedings.

    The tribunal extended its pre-trial period by 14 days and adjourned its ruling for the 33 applications before it to Monday.

    The Tribunal Chairman, Justice A. Kaka’n, said the extension became imperative because of the large volume of applications before it.

    Earlier, the tribunal entertained the case of the Accord to determine who is legally recognised between the state and national chairman of the party to file a petition before the tribunal.

    Counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr. Kayode Olatoke filed a motion praying the tribunal to allow the party add fresh documents and witnesses to its petition.

    The respondents, including Mimiko, LP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), objected to the motion.

    The tribunal struck out the CPC’s injunction seeking to restrain the respondents from harassing the party’s forensic experts, who are inspecting documents used in the election at the INEC office in Alagbaka, Akure.

  • Ondo tribunal: Two counsel clash over appearances

    There was a drama yesterday at the Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Akure, the state capital, when two counsel appeared for the petition filed by the Accord.

    Mr. Michael Lana had been holding brief for party since the sessions began, but Mr. Olabanjo Ayemakin suddenly stood up yesterday and announced his appearance for the party.

    The tribunal shunned the Accord’s National Chairman, Alhaji A. Lalado, who allegedly came from Abuja to tell the court that the party’s former state chairman, Dr. Ajibola Falaye, who was expelled for alleged anti-party activities, is still the Accord chairman in the state.

    The party’s State Executive had appointed Mr. Olarewaju Olaniyan as its Acting State Chairman.

    The tribunal Chairman, Justice A. Kaka’n, told the National Chairman and the state exco to go and settle their differences internally, both on the counsel and the chairmanship issue.

    Accord is challenging the exclusion of its candidate from the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Yesterday, the tribunal heard the objections of the respondents (Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Labour Party (LP) and INEC) that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the petitions of the Accord, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

    It also heard the applications of the petitioners seeking hearing of all the objections with the substantive petitions.

    The Accord’s application for judgment, based on INEC’s admission that it excluded the party’s candidate in the poll, was also heard.

    On Accord’s legal representation, the tribunal adjourned till Tuesday. The panel said a single ruling would be delivered on all the applications in the petitions, which have been consolidated into one. The date for the ruling would be announced after Tuesday’s sitting. The tribunal was informed by Accord’s counsel of alleged plans by men of the State Security Service (SSS) to arrest leaders of the party supporting the petition and prayed for judicial protection.

    The tribunal directed the SSS not to arrest anybody within the court’s premises.