Ladoja, Ajimobi slug it out at election tribunal

Ladoja, Ajimobi slug it out at election tribunal




The Oyo State governorship election tribunal was on Friday inaugurated by its Chairman, Justice F.C. Obieze, at the state High Court, Ibadan, with an appeal to counsel to the petitioners and respondents to shun unnecessary adjournment and time-wasting tactics because of the time frame allotted to the sitting.

Friday’s opening session lasted 13 minutes.

Former Oyo State Governor Rasidi Ladoja of the Accord Party is challenging the victory of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress in the April 11 governorship election in the state.

Ladoja and AP are the joint petitioners while Ajimobi, APC, Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Rufus Akeju and the Independent National Electoral Commission are the respondents.

In the petition, backed with six paragraphs affidavit dated May 28 and submitted to the court, the applicants are praying that INEC and Akeju permit them to inspect and count, in the presence of the officials or agents of Ajimobi and APC, the ballot papers and boxes used in the April 11 governorship election.

Other members of the tribunal are justices Muhammad Karaye and J.E. Ikede. In his opening speech, Obieze said the tribunal had 180 days to work and that it would do everything to deliver judgement before its final day.

He said, “This tribunal must deliver judgement on the petition before it not later than 180 days from the day of its inauguration. This placed an appreciable burden on the tribunal, the legal practitioners and officials of this tribunal. Legal practitioners are therefore advised to avoid unnecessary adjournment. The tribunal shall sit from day to day and discharge its duty with equity, transparency and the fear of God.”

The Chairman, Ibadan branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, Kazeem Gbadamosi, who was present in the court assured the tribunal chairman that the bar and the counsel to all those involved in the case would cooperate with the sitting process.

Counsel to Ajimobi, Wole Aina (SAN) and that of AP, Richard Ogunwole (SAN), expressed the optimism that the decision of the tribunal would put an end to speculations and controversies surrounding the result of the election which gave victory to Ajimobi for a second term in office.

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Ladoja, Ajimobi slug it out at election tribunal