The Osun Election Petition Tribunal hearing the petition emanating from the July 16 governorship election in the state has adjourned further sitting to Tuesday, October 4, for the respondents to file their responses to the issues raised for determination.
The sitting of the panel, presided over by the chairman of the panel, Justice Tertsea Kume, on Monday in Osogbo, Osun State, was also attended by other members of the panel; Justices Benedict Amaugbe and Bashiru Rabi.
Addressing the panel, Prof. Kayode Olatoke, who represented the petitioners, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, and the All Progressives Congress, informed the panel that he had filed the pre-trial form containing his responses to the issues listed for determination.
Olatoke, who appeared with Yomi Aliyu, and Muritala Abdulrosheed (SAN), said the respondents, Independent National Electoral Commission, Senator Ademola Adeleke, and the Peoples Democratic Party had been served.
He asked the tribunal to stand down the matter for two hours so that the respondents could also file their pre-trial form for the matter to proceed.
But lead counsel for the respondents, Prof Paul Ananaba, who appeared with Mr Oluwole Jimi-Bada, Dr Mubarak Adekilekun and Mr Nurudeen Kareem, said he had not seen the copy of the petitioners’ pre-trial form of the petitioners.
Ananaba then insisted that the respondents should be allowed a 7-day window stipulated in the second schedule of the Electoral Act, 2022 for them to respond appropriately.
In his ruling, Justice Kume adjourned the matter to Tuesday, October 4, before which the respondents must have filed their pre-trial forms.
