By Emegwoako C. Paschal
The Osun 2022 Governorship Election Tribunal, on Monday, September 26, adjourned hearing the petition of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and governor-elect Senator Ademola Adeleke, until Tuesday, October 4th, to allow the three defendants file a response to a pre-trial form.
Prof. Kayode Olatoke, SAN, led a team of 49 lawyers to represent Governor Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress (APC) at yesterday’s hearing, while Prof. Paul Ananaba, SAN, represented the first respondent, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Senator Adeleke was represented by Bamidele Abolarin, while the Peoples Democratic Party was represented by Nathaniel Oke (PDP).
Justice Tertsea Aorga Kume presided over the tribunal with other members including, Benedict Amaugbe and Bashiru Rabi.
Olatoke stated that they responded to a pre-trial form issued by the tribunal on September 23rd.
Ananaba disagreed with the petitioner’s position regarding the pre-trail form, stating that “we just received the pre-trail form this morning and need more time to file our response.”
Olatoke advised the court to adjourn the case so that the respondents could file and serve the petitioners and the tribunal panel and that pre-trial proceedings could start right away.
The second schedule of the Electoral Law allows us to respond within seven days, according to Ananaba, who disagreed with the petitioner’s counsel’s recommendation. We have seven days to respond since they just served us the pre-trail form this morning.
Adeleke and the PDP attorney accepted the INEC attorney’s position.
Justice Kume, the panel’s chair, postponed the case until October 4 for a hearing.
