Ekiti Tribunal Proceeds on a Week Adjournment, to Resume October 15
The Election Petition Tribunal handling the governorship dispute in Ekiti State, has adjournment sitting for a week for the petitioners to assemble more Witnesses to prosecute his case.
During Wednesday’s proceeding, Counsel to the the Action Alliance and Social Democratic Party, Dr. Chukwudebelu Nnamdi, had through an oral application craved for a week adjournment to assemble more Witnesses and to attend to some pressing legal issues that can fastrack expeditious trial of the case.
The Chairman of the three- man Tribunal, Justice Idris Abubakar Kutigi, in his ruling on the oral application, granted the request and said the panel will reconvene October 15, 2026, to continue with the hearing of the case.
“We are very cognisance of our time, so we plead with INEC to get ready, so that as soon as the petitioners finished presenting witnesses, then the first respondent can start its defence immediately and without delay.
“This application is granted, but we are making it clear that we won’t allow any waste of time as provided by the schedules. Election petition is time bound and we need to work in line with the provisions of the law”.
In his oral application, Dr Nnamdi, said, ” My Lords, I had earlier told you about my predicament, which borders on some internal issues in SDP regarding our witnesses. You have seen for yourselves the burdens we had passed through to present witnesses here.
“I humbly request for adjournment till next week Thursday, so that I will be able to attend to some of these issues”.
In their responses, Counsels to Governor Biodun Oyebanji, Adetunji Oso (SAN) and Independent National Electoral Commission, Barr. Tunde Salako, didn’t object to the application.
They averred that their favourable dispositions were predicated on the fact that the one- week is still within the six weeks apportioned by tribunal for the petitioners to present witnesses in court.
Specifically, Adetunji Oso(SAN), urged the petitioners to be conscious of time and that the one -week adjournment will be sufficient enough for them to put their house in order.
“With this one week, they will now have sufficient time to make their minds and do the right thing. Again, it is still within the six weeks given for them to prosecute their case”.
Before the ruling, the counsel to the petitioners called an SDP witness, Lawrence Ogunbanwo, to testify in court.
While being cross examined, the witness said he voted on election day at unit 10 Agbado/Oyo Ward in Ikere Ekiti without inducement or interference and that he was duly accredited by INEC officials.