A three-member panel of the election petition tribunal sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, has warned the petitioners and their lawyers against meeting any of the judges in private for the purposes of lobbying.
Justice Rose Soji, who is leading the three-man panel of the tribunal, gave the warning at its inaugural meeting and the commencement of the pre-hearing conference yesterday in Akure.
Soji, who was flanked by two other members of the panel, Justice Aliyu Bapa and Justice Frank Onyiri, said the tribunal would not tolerate any private talk under any guise.
She disclosed that the panel would rather prefer public talks, stressing that no fewer than 14 petitions were received by the tribunal for the February 25 National Assembly and March 18 state House of Assembly elections in Ondo State.
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She said the election petition is time-bound; hence the tribunal will not entertain delay tactics that may be deployed by lawyers while filing their processes.
She assured all parties involved in the process that the panel would be fair and unbiased throughout the duration that the tribunal would be sitting.
The panel also warned lawyers against addressing the members in a dress code not authorised for appearance, as it was emphasised that only black and navy blue dress codes would be allowed.
“We crave the indulgence and cooperation of everyone so that we can finish on time. We received 14 petitions from both the national and state assemblies.
“The election petition is time-bound. We will hear you and decide according to the law. We are not here for any party or petitioner. No lawyer or litigant should see us in private. We will not tolerate that and we will finish well,” she said.
Remarking on behalf of lawyers present during the inaugural sitting, Barrister Olajide Ajana assured the panel that the processes would be smooth and unhindered.
Bauchi tribunal receives 45 petitions
The election tribunal sitting in Bauchi has received 45 petitions from various candidates and political parties challenging the outcome of the elections in the state.
Our correspondent reports that the tribunal pasted all the petitions received on its notice board in Bauchi, the Bauchi State capital.
Bayelsa receives 31 petitions
Meanwhile, the election tribunal in Bayelsa State says it has so far received 31 petitions arising from the recently concluded general elections in the state.
The secretary of the tribunal, Abba Umaru Dahiru, who disclosed this to newsmen after the inaugural sitting yesterday in Yenagoa, the state capital, said the tribunal received 31 petitions.
He said 22 petitions were for the state House of Assembly elections and 9 for the National Assembly elections. He disclosed that one of the petitions has been withdrawn so far.
Speaking during the proceedings, the chairperson of the panel, Justice O. M. Fagbemi, warned litigants and counsels to desist from seeking unnecessary adjournments, filing of frivolous applications and preliminary objections which are time-wasting, aimed at perverting the course of justice.
From Tosin Tope (Akure), Ahmed Mohammed (Bauchi) & Bassey Willie (Yenagoa)
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