Members of the Osun State chapter
of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Thursday stormed the premises of
election petition tribunal sitting in Osogbo, the state capital, to protest the
sudden disbandment of the panel.
Armed with placards carrying
different inscriptions, Barrister Niyi Owolade, a PDP chieftain, who addressed
newsmen on behalf of the people expressed dismay over the development.
Owolade explained that the party
filed a petition on Tuesday, in which the Independent National Electoral
Commission, INEC, the Governor-elect, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola and the All
Progressives Congress, APC, were joined as respondents.
He further explained that while
the first respondent, INEC had been served, Oyetola and his party have declined
service, which compelled them to file an application for substituted service.
The former Osun State Attorney
General said they were taken aback on Thursday morning when officials of the
tribunal informed them that the tribunal has been disbanded without giving any
reason for such action and without evidence of constituting another soon.
” 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 for substituted service.
“The application was to have been
heard 9am this morning but we were surprised when we heard that the panel has
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 180days started counting from 16th
October, and section 285, sub-section 6 of the 1999 constitution is clear about
that.
“By the 180 days duration, final
judgement on this matter is to be delivered on or before April 15, 2019, and
time is of essence.
” We are surprised that the
President of the Appeal Court, who is saddled with the responsibility of
constituting election tribunal has not deemed it fit to have put in place a new
panel, ” he said.
Owolade demanded immediate
constitution of the panel in order to continue with the process without delay.
He stressed that there must never
be any vacuum in the pattern of constituting election panel, adding that the
people are seriously yearning for justice.
“We are presently in limbo
because time is of essence, we want a new panel to be put in place immediately
to continue the process, we are appealing to the president of Appeal Court to
do the needful”.
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