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  • Updated: Tribunal sacks Osun Governor, declares Adeleke winner

    *Voids results in 17 polling units

    The Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal has voided the election of Adegboyega Oyetola as governor of Osun State.

    In a two-to-one split decision by a three-man panel, the tribunal declared Senator Ademola Adeleke of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the election

    Read Also: Tribunal declares Osun gov re-run election illegal

    Justice Peter Obiora, who read the lead judgement, voided the supplementary election held on September 27, 2018 on the ground that the state returning officer has no power to have cancelled election in seven polling units in four Local Government and order a rerun.

    The tribunal, in the majority judgment, also cancelled results from 17 polling units on grounds of substantial non-compliance with Electoral Act.

    Details shortly

  • Breaking: Tribunal declares Osun gov re-run election illegal

    The rerun Osun governorship election on September 27, 2018 in seven polling units was illegal, The Osun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja has declared.

    It stated the exercise was borne out of an illegal cancellation of results in the polling units during the September 22, 2018 original poll.

    Read Also: Oyetola urges councils to generate independent funding

    The Returning Officers who declared the results cancelled, according to the Tribunal, lacked the power to do it.

    The Peoples Democratic Party and its governorship candidate, Ademola Adeleke, petitioned the tribunal to declare Adeleke the governor-elect having polled the highest lawful votes.

     

     

  • Tribunal fixes judgment for Friday in Osun governorship dispute

    The Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Apo, Abuja has scheduled Friday for judgment in the petition by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the September 2018 governorship election held in the state, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

    PDP and Adeleke are, by their petition, challenging the declaration of Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The date for the judgment was communicated to parties via hearing notices sent to them on Tuesday to that effect by the tribunal’s secretariat, a copy of which The Nation sighted in Abuja.

    Read Also: INEC ad hoc staff protest over unpaid allowances

    Tribunal Chairman, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo had, on March 7, after parties adopted their final written addresses, announced that judgment in the case would be reserved till a later date.

    Justice Sirajo said parties will be informed, at least, 48 hours before the date of delivery of the judgment.

    Wole Olanipekun (SAN) appeared for Oyetola; Akin Olujinmi (SAN) represented the APC while Lasco Pwahomdi appeared for INEC on March 7.

    The petitioners’ legal team was led by Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN).

    In adopting their separate final addresses, Olanipekun, Olujinmi and Pwahomdi urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition on the grounds that the petitioners have failed to prove their case.

    On his part, Ikpeazu urged the tribunal to uphold the petition and grant all the reliefs prayed by the petitioners.

    Olanipekun, while adopting his final address, noted that the petition was full of confusing claims and betrayed the petitioners’ lack of understanding of the nation’s election petition jurisprudence.

    In identifying what he described as the many contradictions in the petition, Olanipekun noted that “in pages 37, 38 and 39, the petitioners are presenting a different case entirely from their pleadings. The petition is a bedlam of confusion.”

    Olanipekun noted that the petitioners have admitted breaching the electoral law by seeking that some of their votes be quashed.

    He added: “They are also asking the tribunal to quash some of their votes. A self-confessed petitioner, who has in writing, admitted infringing the law, cannot be asking to be returned as a winner of the election.

    “In their relief seven, they want the court to nullify the certificate of return, but they failed to present the certificate before the tribunal. Where is that certificate? Can the tribunal nullify what is not before it?

    “They said the certificate of return is with us. If it is with us, should they not have given us a notice to produce it? They did not give us notice to produce,” Olanipekun said.

    He relied on a decision of the Court of Appeal given on Wednesday in the motion filed by the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar and urged the tribunal to decline the petitioners’ prayer to void the guideline issued by INEC for the conduct of the election.

    In similar argument, Olujinmi faulted the evidence given by 63 polling agents called as witnesses by the petitioners.

    He noted that, though the petitioners called 80 witnesses in all, 63, who were polling unit agents gave common evidence by saying similar things and using almost exactly the same words.

    Olujinmi also argued the the evidence by the petitions’ 74th witness, who was the state polling agent, amounted to hearsay evidence because he admitted getting the information from the documents submitted to him.

    He urged the tribunal to ignore the various documents tendered by the petitioners, which he said they merely dumped on the tribunal without demonstrating their link to the case.

    Olujinmi also noted contradictions in the case of the petitioners and the evidence they led.

    He noted that while the petitioners want the tribunal to declare them winner of the first part of the election held on September 22, 2018 and void the supplementary election held on September 27, 2018, their 74th witness said they have no cause of action as it relates to the election of September 22, 2018.

    Ikpeazu, in his counter argument, urged the tribunal to disregard the issues raised by the respondents’ lawyers.

    He faulted the written addresses by the 2nd and 3rd respondents, which he argued, were not filed as required by law.

    Ikpeazu said there was no confusion as it relates to the case of the petitioners. He said the respondents’ claim of existence of confusion betrayed their misunderstanding of the case.

    Ikpeazu said the petitioners’ case was that, based of the result of the election of September 22, the 1st petitioner, having satisfied provision of Section 179(2) of the Constitution, ought to be declared as having won.

    He faulted the respondents’ argument that the petitioners dumped documents on the tribunal.

    Ikpeazu argued that the petitioners have effectively demonstrated all the documents tendered, including the certified true copies of the result sheets, which he said, were riddled with alterations.

    He queried the powers of INEC to alter election results and urged the tribunal to grant the petitioners’ prayers.

  • Adeleke promised voters money, witness tells Osun tribunal

    The Osun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal heard yesterday how the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke, allegedly promised to bribe the electorate with money while he was campaigning for the rerun on September 27, last year.

    A witness, Kazeem Oladejo, told the tribunal that Adeleke visited his community, Idi-Iya in Orolu Local Government Area, to campaign.

    He said the PDP candidate allegedly promised openly to give the people money, if they voted for him.

    Oladejo, who was the second witness of the All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke while being cross-examined by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), who led the legal team of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun State governor).

    Olanipekun asked the witness if Adekele visited his (witness’) community between September 22, last year, (when the election proper was held) and on September 27, (when the rerun was held).

    The witness said: “In between the first election and when the rerun was conducted, the first petitioner (Adeleke) came to my village to canvass for votes. He came to our town, dancing.

    “He went to our oba’s palace and went around the town, dancing and campaigning, saying: ‘I am coming fully now’. Many big Nigerians are supporting me, like Femi Otedola and Dangote. Vote for me and I will give you money. Gbagam! I will give you dollars. Gbagam! I will give you Pound sterling. Gbagam! I will give you Euro. Gbagam!’

    “He (Adeleke) said it categorically that Femi Otedola and Dangote gave him money. He mentioned all kinds of money, like dollars, Pound sterling and Euro.

    “He danced around the town and danced out of the town while he was leaving after the campaign.”

    As the witness spoke, a member of the tribunal took note, while the audience erupted in laughter, with some repeating the word: Gbagam.

    Adeleke and the PDP are challenging the outcome of the last governorship election in Osun State, won by APC’s candidate, Oyetola.

    Earlier, while being led in evidence by APC’s lawyer Abiodun Layonu (SAN), Oladejo, (who was listed as the respondent’s 13th witness (but second for the third respondent – APC), said he acted as Polling Unit agent for the APC in Unit 4, Ward 8, Idi-Iya Village, Orolu Local Government Area.

    He acknowledged signing a written deposition and asked the tribunal to accept the deposition as his evidence before it.

    Under cross-examination by lawyer to the first respondent, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Adesina Agbede, the witness said he stood by the content in his written deposition.

    And the tribunal admitted same as his oral evidence in the matter.

    Under cross-examination by lawyer to Adeleke and PDP, Nathaniel Oke (SAN), the witness said he did not include the information about how the PDP candidate promised to bribe the electorate, in his written deposition.

    When asked by Oke whether or not the election was monitored by observers, Oladejo said there were many local and foreign observers at his polling unit.

    The first APC’s witness for the day (listed as R12), was Soji Ayoola, who said he is a teacher and the party’s agent in Unit 8, Ward 9 at Isundurin in Ejigbo Local Government Area.

    Led in evidence by Layonu, the witness adopted his written statement, which the tribunal admitted in evidence.

    Under cross-examination by Agbede, the witness said his polling unit was won by the PDP with 168 votes as against APC’s 86 votes.

    He said the election was held in accordance with the required standard, adding that he was accredited before being allowed to vote.

    Layonu said he voted once and that at the close of ballot, the results were announced to the hearing of all.

    He said: “Before the election, all the materials were shown to us and the ballot papers were counted at the end of the election.”

    The witness said party agents in his polling unit signed the result sheet and a pink copy of the result sheets was handed to each of the agents.

    Under cross-examination by Olanipekun, the witness confirmed that the PDP won in the unit where he served as agent.

    Ayoola said the votes were already sorted out, counted and announced before the information was entered into the Form EC8A (the result sheet from his polling unit).

    The witness, who read from the Form EC8A, noted that the total number of issued ballot papers for his polling unit were 714 while the total number of used and unused ballot papers stood 711, which was less than the number issued.

    He said the total number of unused ballot papers was 361 while 350 was the total number of used ballot papers.

    Ayoola said while the total number of used and unused ballot papers in his polling unit amounted to 711, the result sheet contained 714 as the total number of allocated ballot papers.

    According to him, 48 political parties participated in the election and agents of the parties signed the result sheets after the election.

    He said the result sheets, which all the agents signed, had carbon copies, which were attached to them.

    At that point, Olanipekun asked the witness to demonstrate how he signed the result sheets. The witness was provided with a copy of the result sheet and a carbon paper, on which he signed three times.

    Olanipekun tendered the specimen of the witness’ signature, which the tribunal admitted in evidence and marked as Exhibit R169A.

    At the conclusion of Oladejo’s testimony, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), who led the APC’s legal team, told the tribunal that the third respondent had decided to close its case after calling its second witness.

    Following an agreement by parties, tribunal’s Chairman, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo directed the respondents (INEC, Oyetola and APC) to file their written addresses within 10 days.

    He asked the petitioners to file their written addresses within seven days after the respondents have filed and served them, following which the respondents will, again have five days, within which to file their written reply on point of law.

    The tribunal chairman adjourned till March 7 for parties to adopt their final written addresses.

  • Osun Tribunal: How Adeleke promised voters money – Witness

    …APC closes defence after calling 2 witnesses

    ..Tribunal fixes Marc 7 for adoption of written addresses

     

    The Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal heard on Wednesday how the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke allegedly promised to bribe electorate with money while he was campaigning for the rerun election held on September 27, 2018.

    A witness, Kazeem Oladejo told the tribunal that Adeleke visited his community, Idi-Iya in Orolu Local Government, Osun State to campaign, during which he allegedly promised openly, to give people money should the electorate vote for him.

    Oladejo, who was the second witness of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the revelation while being cross-examined by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), who led the legal team of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

    Olanipekun asked the witness if Adeleke visited his (witness’) community between September 22, 2018 (when the initial election was held) and September 27, 2018 (when the rerun election was held).

    In response, the witness said: “In between the first election and when the rerun election was conducted, the first petitioner (Adeleke) came to my village to canvass for vote.

    “He came to our town, dancing. He went to our Oba’s palace and went around the town, dancing and campaigning, and saying, I am coming fully now.

    “Many big Nigerians are supporting me, like Femi Otedola and Dangote. Vote for me and I will give you money, gbagam! I will give you dollars, gbagam! I will give you pound sterling, gbagam! I will give you Euro, gbagam!’

    “He (Adeleke) said it categorically that Femi Otedola and Dangote have given him money. He mentioned all kinds of money, like dollars, pound sterling and Euro.

    “He danced around the town and danced out of the town, while he was leaving after the campaign,” the witness said.

    As the witness spoke, member of the tribunal took note, while the audience erupted in laughter, with some repeating the word: Gbagam.

    Adeleke and the PDP are challenging the outcome of the last governorship election in Osun State, won by APC’s candidate, Oyetola.

    Earlier, while being led in evidence by APC’s lawyer, Abiodun Layonu (SAN), Oladejo, (who was listed as the respondent’s 13th witness (but second for the third respondent – APC), said he acted as Polling Unit agent for the APC in Unit4 Ward 8 Idi-Iya Village, Orolu LG.

    He confirmed signing a written deposition and asked the tribunal to accept the deposition as his evidence before the tribunal.

    Under cross-examination by lawyer to the first respondent – Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) – Adesina Agbede, the witness said he stood by all that are contained in his written deposition, which the tribunal admitted as his oral evidence in the case.

    Under cross-examination by lawyer to Adeleke and PDP, Nathaniel Oke (SAN), the witness said he did not include the information, about how Adeleke promised to bribe electorate, in his written deposition.

    When asked by Oke whether the election was monitored by observers, Oladejo said there were many observers. He said both local and foreign observers were at his polling unit.

    The first APC’s witness for the day (listed as R12), was Soji Ayoola, who said he is a teacher and was APC’s agent in Unit 8, Ward 9 in Isundurin, Ejigbo LG.

    Led in evidence by Layonu, the witness adopted his written statement, which the tribunal admitted in evidence.

    Under cross-examination by Agbede, Ayoola said his polling unit was won by the PDP with 168 votes as against APC’s 86 votes.

    He said the election was held in accordance with the required standard.

    He said he was accredited before being allowed to vote.

    He said he voted once, and that, at the close of ballot, the results were announced to the hearing of all.

    The witness said: “Before the election, all the materials were shown to us and the ballot papers were counted at the end of the election.”

    The witness said all party agents in his polling unit signed the result sheet, following which a pink copy of the result sheets was handed to each of the agents.

    Under cross-examination by Olanipekun, the witness confirmed that the PDP won in the unit where he served as agent.

    Ayoola said the votes were already sorted out, counted and announced before the information was entered into the Form EC8A (the result sheet from his polling unit).

    The witness, who read from the Form EC8A, noted that the total number of issued ballot papers for his polling unit were 714 while the total number of used and unused ballot papers stood 711, which was less than the number issued.

    Read Also: ‘Exam malpractices’: Prosecution raises charges against Adeleke, others

    He said a total number of unused ballot papers were 361 while 350 was the total number of used ballot papers.

    The witness said while total number of used and unused ballot papers in his polling unit amounted to 711 the result sheet contained 714 as the total number of allocated ballot papers.

    The witness said 48 political parties participated in the election and that agents of the parties signed the result sheets after the election.

    He said the result sheets, which all the agents signed, had carbon copies, which were attached to them.

    At that point, Olanipekun asked the witness to demonstrate how he signed the result sheets. The witness was provided with a copy of the result sheet and a carbon sheet, on which he signed three times.

    The specimen of the witness’ signature was later tendered by Olanipekun, which the tribunal, in the absence of objection from the other parties, admitted in evidence and marked as: Exhibit R169A.

    At the conclusion of Oladejo’s testimony, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), who led the APC’s legal team, told the tribunal that the third respondent has decided to close its case after calling its second witness.

    Following agreement by parties, tribunal’s Chairman, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo directed the respondents (INEC, Oyetola and APC) to file their written addresses within 10 days.

    He asked the petitioners to file their written addresses within seven days after the respondents have filed and served them, following which the respondents will, again have five days, within which to file their written reply on point of law.

    The tribunal Chairman adjourned to March 7 this year, for parties to adopt their final written addresses.
     

     

  • Breaking: Osun gov closes case at tribunal after 11 witnesses

    *APC to open defence, Feb 6

    Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola has closed his defence before the state’s governorship election tribunal, sitting in Abuja.

    Oyetola, who is the second respondent in the petition filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the last governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, closed his case on Tuesday, after calling 11 witnesses.

    PDP and Adeleke are challenging the outcome of the election won by Oyetola, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Read Also; Osun tribunal: ‘INEC is allowed to rectify errors in result sheets’

    Oyetola had, on February 1 this year, after calling his 11th witness – Adegboyega Rasaki Adeosunn, who acted as APC’s State Collation Officer during the election, promised to call four more on Monday.

    At the resumption of proceedings on Monday, Oyetola”s lawyer, John Baiyeshea (SAN) told the tribunal that his client did not see any reason to call more witnesses and has decided to close his case.

    Tribunal’s Chairman, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo adjourned to Wednesday for the third respondent, APC to open its defence.

  • Osun tribunal: INEC is allowed to rectify errors in result sheets, by witnesses‎

    *Tribunal asks PDP, Adeleke’s lawyer to be organised

    The Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal has been told that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is allowed to rectify discrepancies in entries in election result sheets.

    Three witnesses called by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State, at the resumed sitting of the tribunal on Thursday in Abuja, said they were trained on the operation of INEC’s Manual and Electoral Guidelines before they were engaged as agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the election.

    The witnesses – Bello Mukaila, Olatitoye Sodeeq, Iyiola Ismail – (who served as APC polling agent in Osogbo and Ikire) said they learnt, at the training, that INEC reserve the right to correct errors in result sheets.

    They also identified some of the result sheets where such discrepancies were corrected.

    Some of the result sheets were from polling units won by both APC and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    The tribunal is hearing the petition by the PDP and its candidate in the last governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

    Adeleke witnessed the tribunal’s proceedings on Thursday. He sat from beginning of proceedings (10am) to around 12noon.

    The legal team of the PDP and Adeleke got an additional hand on Thursday with the attendance of proceedings by former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Kanu Agabi (SAN).

    Agabi only announced his appearance but allowed Onyechi Ikpeazu to conduct the case of the petitioners.

    Wole Olanipekun (who led Oyetola’s legal team) also allowed Abiodun Owonikoko (SSAN) to conduct his client’s proceedings. He only intervened when necessary.

    Olanipekun contributed to argument, in favour of the 3rd respondent (APC) when Ikpeazu objected to the move by APC’s lawyer, Lasun Sanusi (SAN) to tender a copy of INEC’s Manual and Electoral Guideline through Mukaila.

    In a ruling, the tribunal, led by Justice Ibrahim Sirajo upheld the argument by Olanipekun and Sanusi and admitted the document in evidence.

    At the commencement of proceedings, Justice Sirajo advised Ikpeazu to be organised. The judge’s advice was informed by the discrepancies noted in the list of lawyers he submitted to court and the one with him.

    Read Also: Osun gov election dispute: Oyetola opens defence

    Ikpeazu announced the names of some lawyers in his team and left some out, an omission the judge noted from the list submitted to the tribunal.

    The tribunal Chairman later called out the names of about five lawyers, who were omitted by Ikpeazu, following which the petitioners’ lawyer apologised.

    Justice Sirajo then said: “Get more organised please, get more organised. That is all I have to say for today, get more organised.”

    The tribunal rose at about 12.30pm, after Olanipekun announced that the 2nd defendants were done for the day.

    Proceedings resume on Friday at 10am.

  • Osun tribunal: Oyetola to open defence January 30

    The Osun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has adjourned till January 30 for Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to open his defence.

    The tribunal is hearing the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in last July 14 governorship election, Senator Ademola Isiaka.

    They are challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaration of Oyetaola, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of the election.

    The petitioners are alleging, among others, that the election results were doctored to favour the APC candidate.

    They are also alleging that the election was marred by fraud and that it was not held in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act.

    Tribunal Chairman, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo, announced yesterday in Abuja, the nation’s capital, after INEC closed its case, that the tribunal would adjourn and return on January 30, when the second respondent (Oyetola) will open his case.

    INEC, the first respondent in the petition, opened its case last Friday and closed it yesterday without calling oral evidence, though it relied solely on documentary evidence.

    The electoral body, which tendered all documents on the election, including result sheets as announced by its officials, said it chose not to call oral evidence because the petitioners did not make out sufficient case to disprove the credibility of the election and the results it announced.

    INEC opened its case after the petitioners, who tendered documents and called oral evidence, closed theirs.

    Most of the petitioners’ witnesses were PDP’s agents at the polling units where the election was held.

    Majority of the witnesses, who were artisans and traders, were barely able to express themselves in English language.

    Some of them could also not read when called upon to go through portions of the statements they claimed were written for them by their lawyers.

    But they confirmed signing the statement.

     

     

  • Osun tribunal: Oyetola to open defence Jan 30

    The Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal has adjourned to January 30 this year for the state Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola to open his defence.

    The tribunal is hearing the petition filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the last governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Isiaka, challenging the decision by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare Oyetaola, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the election.

    The petitioners are alleging, among others, that the election results were doctored to favour the APC candidate. It is also their contention that the election was marred with fraud and that it was not held in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act.

    Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo announced on Thursday, after INEC closed its case, that the tribunal will adjourn and return on January 30 when the second respondent will open his case. Oyetola is listed as the second respondent in the petition.

    INEC, listed as the first respondent to the petition, opened its case last Friday and closed on Thursday, without calling oral evidence, but relied solely on documentary evidence.

    The electoral body, while tendering all documents relevant to the election, including result sheets as announced by its officials, said it chose not to call oral evidence because the petitioners have not made out sufficient case to disprove the credibility of the election and the results it announced.

    Read Also: Oyetola: bottom-up approach pivotal to service delivery

    INEC opened its case at the closure of the case of the petitioners, who tendered documents and called oral evidence.

    Most of the petitioner’s witnesses were PDP’s agents at the polling units where elections held.

    Majority of the witnesses, who were artisans and traders, were barely literate and able to express themselves in English language.

    Some of them could also not read when called upon to read portions of the statements they claimed were written for them by their lawyers, but which they signed.

  • Revealed: Why Osun tribunal was reconstituted

    •PDP supporters protest disbandment •APC berates opposition’s ‘shenanigans’

    Facts have emerged on why the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, reconstituted the Osun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.

    The Nation learnt that Justice Bulkachuwa’s decision was informed by the need to allow more judges to preside over post-election cases and prevent a situation where the same set of judges sit at election tribunals.

    It was also learnt that the Appeal Court President decided to use new judges for the Osun tribunal on realising that some members of the earlier panel had sat on similar election cases.

    The Nation gathered that the reconstituted panel will begin sitting “very soon” in Osogbo, the state capital.

    Appeal Court’s spokesperson Mrs. Sa’adatu Musa confirmed the dissolution of the panel, which was earlier constituted to hear the petitions arising from the recently concluded Osun governorship election.

    She said by reconstituting the panel, the Appeal Court President merely exercised her constitutional powers to so act.

    Mrs. Musa said the reconstitution of the panel was a mere administrative decision meant to ensure orderliness.

    She said: “It is true that the Osun panel has been reconstituted by the President. The Appeal Court President is not required to give reasons for her action. The law allows her to determine who sits in any panel.

    “The earlier panel has not started sitting. So, there is no need for anyone to be suspicious. The new panel will soon begin sitting,” she said.

    Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State yesterday protested at the State High Court in Osogbo the “disbandment” of the tribunal.

    The party’s supporters accused the ruling APC of being behind the disbandment, saying they would resist “any attempt to subvert the will of the people of Osun State”.

    A PDP leader, Niyi Owolade, who is also a former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, described the alleged disbandment of the tribunal as an attempt to “commit a second robbery against the people of Osun State”.

    Owolade, who expressed worry over the disbandment, noted that the party filed a petition on Tuesday in which he said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the governor-elect, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola and the APC were joined as respondents.

    He said: “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 (Wednesday) for substituted service.

    “The application was to have been heard 9 a.m today, but we were surprised when we heard that the panel had 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 180 days started counting from October 16. Section 285, sub-section 6 of the 1999 Constitution is clear about that.

    “By the 180-day duration, a final judgment on this matter is to be delivered on or before April 15, 2019. Time is of essence.

    “We are surprised that the President of Appeal Court, who is saddled with the responsibility of constituting an election tribunal, has not deemed it fit to put in place a new panel.”

    The ruling APC in Osun State expressed dismay at what it called the “shenanigans” of the PDP on the dissolution of the tribunal.

    In a statement yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, by its Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Kunle Oyatomi, APC described PDP’s protest as “irresponsible and desperate”.

    The statement said: “Nothing could be more absurd than the PDP’s accusation of the APC as the brain behind the dissolution of the Electoral Tribunal. We will like the people of Osun to remember that this same phenomenon occurred in 2014 when the same PDP went to tribunal, attempting to annul the re-election of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola at the time.

    “By our record, which is public knowledge, the tribunal was dissolved three times. Because we did not know what was responsible for the dissolution, the APC did not issue stupid statements nor was any irresponsible protest organised against those dissolutions.

    “This was because we were neither privy to, nor was it our responsibility to question the action of the Judiciary. We had faith in the process and we allowed it to run its course. This was at a time the PDP itself was in charge of government in Abuja.

    “The PDP should be called to order because it is about time it got responsible. What we are witnessing is an escalation of the distrust in the political process and a lack of faith in the Judiciary, which does no good to our democracy.

    “We are not inclined to engage the PDP in an unnecessary argument over the judicial process.  Let the justice system play itself out and our politicians are obligated to respect the decisions of the court.

    “Pretending as the PDP is doing to ascribe ulterior motives to the dissolution of the Electoral Tribunal is to assume knowledge that is not available to the public. Worst of all, to accuse the APC and the Judiciary of collusion to miscarry justice without an iota of proof is a criminal action.

    “Finally, we are sick and tired of PDP’s habitual lying; it’s about time the party changed its course and became an agent of truth rather than a megaphone of lies and instigators of political rascality.”