There was heavy security presence, on
Thursday, as the election petition tribunal adjudicating over complaints
arising from the result of the August 9 governorship poll in Osun State
continued its proceedings within the complex of the state High Court.
Anti-riot policemen, numbering over 70, were sighted, providing water-tight security along Oke-Fia/Ilobu road, where the High Court is located, just as the road was permanently closed to traffic for almost three hours the proceedings lasted.
Though it could not be ascertained what informed the heavy security presence, the development precipitated traffic gridlock, as motorists, pedestrians and commercials motorcyclists were diverted from Oke Fia roundabout to the Government Reservation Area (GRA), with a view to assessing their respective destinations.
Judicial staff, journalists and other categories of people allowed entry into the court premises were thoroughly frisked with bomb detectors by stern-looking security operatives, while about five Hilux patrol vans belonging to the police were strategically parked closed to the venue of the tribunal.
However, the three-member panel, headed by Justice Elizabeth N. Ikpejime, adjourned its ruling on the competence of the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, till next week Monday.
The panel also struck out application for the extension of the inspection time regarding electoral materials used for election, having been withdrawn by the counsel for the petitioner, Mr Alex Izinyon.
Earlier, the lead counsel for the first respondent (Rauf Aregbesola), Mr Akin Olujimi, had argued that the tribunal “lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the Omisore’s petition due to lack of competence.”
According to him, “I want to call the attention of the tribunal to paragraph 53, sub-paragraph 5 of the first schedule of the Electoral Act 2010, bordering on mandatory provision directing that your Lordships are under a duty to determine the irregularity and competence of election petition,” stressing that “the objection we are raising challenging the competence of the petition cannot be taken with the petition.”
But, counsel for Omisore and the PDP, Mr Izinyon, described the decided Court of Appeal cases cited by the counsel to the first respondent as old testaments references, maintaining that paragraph 12 sub-section 5 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, provided legal cover for all the matters raised to be heard alongside the petition.
While citing Osunbor Vs Oshiomohle 2007 LRECN page 79 and Enukeme Vs Onumasi 2014 LEELR page 2354 to buttress his argument, he stated that “the Court of Appeal in the cases held that all matters can be heard together, as time is of essence in election petition.”
Anti-riot policemen, numbering over 70, were sighted, providing water-tight security along Oke-Fia/Ilobu road, where the High Court is located, just as the road was permanently closed to traffic for almost three hours the proceedings lasted.
Though it could not be ascertained what informed the heavy security presence, the development precipitated traffic gridlock, as motorists, pedestrians and commercials motorcyclists were diverted from Oke Fia roundabout to the Government Reservation Area (GRA), with a view to assessing their respective destinations.
Judicial staff, journalists and other categories of people allowed entry into the court premises were thoroughly frisked with bomb detectors by stern-looking security operatives, while about five Hilux patrol vans belonging to the police were strategically parked closed to the venue of the tribunal.
However, the three-member panel, headed by Justice Elizabeth N. Ikpejime, adjourned its ruling on the competence of the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, till next week Monday.
The panel also struck out application for the extension of the inspection time regarding electoral materials used for election, having been withdrawn by the counsel for the petitioner, Mr Alex Izinyon.
Earlier, the lead counsel for the first respondent (Rauf Aregbesola), Mr Akin Olujimi, had argued that the tribunal “lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the Omisore’s petition due to lack of competence.”
According to him, “I want to call the attention of the tribunal to paragraph 53, sub-paragraph 5 of the first schedule of the Electoral Act 2010, bordering on mandatory provision directing that your Lordships are under a duty to determine the irregularity and competence of election petition,” stressing that “the objection we are raising challenging the competence of the petition cannot be taken with the petition.”
But, counsel for Omisore and the PDP, Mr Izinyon, described the decided Court of Appeal cases cited by the counsel to the first respondent as old testaments references, maintaining that paragraph 12 sub-section 5 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, provided legal cover for all the matters raised to be heard alongside the petition.
While citing Osunbor Vs Oshiomohle 2007 LRECN page 79 and Enukeme Vs Onumasi 2014 LEELR page 2354 to buttress his argument, he stated that “the Court of Appeal in the cases held that all matters can be heard together, as time is of essence in election petition.”
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