Ekiti election tribunal: Incomplete inspection of documents by respondents stalls hearing

The petitioners, the Peoples Democratic Party, and its candidate in the Ekiti July 14 governorship election, Prof. Olusola Kolapo had approached the tribunal to challenge the outcome of the election. The respondents in the suit are the All Progressives Congress, Kayode Fayemi, the eventual winner of the election and the Independent National Electoral Commission. Adebayo Adelodun (SAN), a member of the petitioners’ legal team, sought for adjournment after he tendered some certified true copies of Permanent Voters’ Registers for three local government areas. Adelodun sought for the adjournment as the respondents were yet to complete inspection of the materials already tendered. Justice Suleiman Belgore, chairman of the tribunal, adjourned the case until October 24 for continuation of hearing. The petitioners tendered certified true copies of PVRs for 100 units from three local government areas. Earlier, Roland Otaru (SAN), another member of the petitioners’ legal team had complained that the respondents’ counsel was not cooperating on the issue of inspection of the electoral materials. The senior advocate stated that the inspection by the respondents was too slow, saying that, “it took them like one hour to inspect PVR of one unit.” Counsel to INEC, Chief Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwan (SAN), stated that it was not true that the respondents were not cooperating with the petitioners. Other respondents’ counsel, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN) and John Olusola Baiyese (SAN), aligned themselves with the submissions of INEC’s counsel. (NAN)]]>