Following another round of adjournment occasioned by the continued absence of a substantive chairman for the gubernatorial election petition tribunal hearing complaints of Senator Rasidi Ladoja against the victory of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, the state chapter of the Accord party Friday frowned at the delay in the matter.
When the matter was again adjourned till June 21 by the acting Chairman, Justice Muhammed Karaye, at the instance of the counsel, the party felt uncomfortable particularly because the tribunal has only 180 statutory days to hear and determine the petition.
Reacting, the party’s Publicity Secretary in the state, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, said: “We as a party is disappointed that the pre-hearing has been adjourned again based on the absence of chairman for the tribunal. The electoral Act is clear enough on the time frame for the hearing of the petition.
The reigning peace in the state after the governorship election is because of the belief of people of the state in the judiciary. Now the petition has suffered three adjournments due to the absence of chairman.
We are appealing to the authorities concerned to urgently ensure that the new chairman for the tribunal resumes.” The development was caused by issues surrounding the appointment and resumption of new chairman for the tribunal as Justice F. C Obieze who was the panel’s chairman retired shortly after its inauguration.
When the petition convened yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital, its acting chairman inquired from Ladoja’s lead counsel, Chief Richard Ogunwole (SAN), on the results of the formal letter he was advised to write to the President of Court of Appeal on the appointment of a new chairman for the tribunal.
Ogunwole revealed that he was able to meet the Court of Appeal President on the issue, adding that a new chairman had already been appointed for the tribunal and would resume ‘‘probably over the weekend.” Ogunwole consequently suggested that the pre – hearing of the petition may begin tomorrow.
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