Edo: Ize-Iyamu Mum As Tribunal Starts Hearing Petitions Against Obaseki

The Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, on Friday, commenced sitting in Benin on the petitions filed by political parties challenging the declaration of Gov. Godwin Obaseki as the winner of the Sept. 19 governorship poll in the state.

The court immediately granted the request of the five plaintiffs for substituted service on Obaseki.

GWG had earlier reported that the parties had been unable to serve Obaseki with the petitions.

Obaseki, who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was declared winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), having secured the highest number of votes cast.

The political parties seeking to nullify Obaseki’s victory include Action Democratic Party (ADP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

At the resumed sitting, the Chairman of the three-man panel, Justice Abdulrazaq Abdulkareem, expressed commitment to attending the five petitions before it within the stipulated time.

Abdulkareem solicited for cooperation from all parties and counsel, assuring that the tribunal would perform its duties without prejudice for any party.

“We wish to assure you that in our quest to get to the truth of the matters before us, we shall act in good faith and do our work with open mind, without any form of bias or appearance of any preconception.

“We also pledge not to lend ourselves to any form of external influence,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the counsel, Mr Ken Mozia (SAN), assured the tribunal of their cooperation, promising that they would do their best to file their applications within the specified time.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that during the sitting, the petitioners sought for ex parte motion for substituted means of service against their respective respondents.

NAN also reports that the tribunal chairman granted their orders and adjourned till Dec. 7, for pre-hearing process.

The All Progressives Congress, APC candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu did not file a petition but is rather contending with Obaseki on his qualification to contest the election in other courts.

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