Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, yesterday, commenced sitting over petitions filed by political parties contending the outcome of the Saturday 19 governorship election in which Governor Godwin Obaseki was re-elected for a second term of office.

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 the victory of Obaseki include, Action Democratic Party (ADP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). At the inaugural sitting in Benin City, yesterday,  the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Abdulrazaq Abdulkareem, said they were committed to hearing the five petitions before the tribunal within the stipulated time frame. He solicited co-operation from all parties and counsel, assuring that the tribunal would perform its duties without prejudice. “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 shall 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”, Justice Abdulkareem said.

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

During the sitting, the petitioners sought for ex parte order for substituted means of service against their respective respondents. Following their applications, the tribunal granted their request and adjourned to Monday,  December 7 for pre-hearing process.