Tribunal adjourns Sylva’s case to June 19

The Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, has adjourned to June 19 pre-hearing in a petition by a former Governor of the state, Timipre Sylva, challenging the election of Senator Ben Murray-Bruce (PDP-Bayelsa East).

The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ononeze Madu, said this after granting the application of the counsel to the petitioner to inspect documents used during the election held on March 28.

The counsel to Sylva, Abong Odok Ogah, challenged the result of the election at the polls at the continuation of the pre-trial hearing at the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Yenagoa.

One of the applications filed by the petitioner’s counsel sought extension of time to file a reply, which was dismissed by the tribunal.

Ogah said with the request to inspect the documents granted, the stage was set for the resumption of pre-trial hearing on June 19.

But the counsel to respondent, Chief Duro Adeleye, noted the second motion in which the petitioner’s counsel had wanted to amend the petition so as to bring in 11 additional witnesses to the original three listed.

Adeleye said: “Now, the relief granted them was for them to correct typographical errors.”

Also, counsel to the third respondent, the Peoples Democratic Party, Samuel Brisbe, expressed satisfaction with the decisions of the Tribunal.

Meanwhile, pre-trial hearing in another petition filed by the National Conscience Party candidate, Chief Dekidie Dekidie, challenging his exclusion from the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District election also took place on Friday.

Senator Emmanuel Paulker of the PDP was declared winner by the Independent National electoral Commission.

Counsel to the petitioner, Chuks Egbulonu, expressed the hope that his client will get justice at the end of the day.

“Exclusion from an election is a very serious issue. We are determined to fight it to the last,” Egbulonu asserted.

The counsel to INEC, Adedajo Adedeji, had argued that the NCP candidate was not validly nominated.

Adedeji said: “The Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) stipulates the time frame within which nomination has to be done, which is 60 days before the election,

“But what we have here is lesser than the 60 days.

“It is the law and it has to be followed.”

The tribunal adjourned to June 16 for pre-trial hearing.

NAN.

—