1st May, 2015
Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun state on Thursday beat the deadline to submit his petition challenging the governorship victory of the incumbent and the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Ibikunle Amosun.
Our correspondent efforts to obtain the document as it was tamped by the officer from the tribunal proved abortive.
PM News reliably gathered that the petition was challenging the result of the election in 11 local government areas won by the candidate of APC.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State National Election Petition Tribunal began its inaugural sitting in Abeokuta, the state capital.
The tribunal ordered that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) make available election materials used for the National Assembly election in Ogun East Senatorial district, which was won by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) candidates, Buruji Kashamu.
The chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ebiowei Tobi further ordered that the inspection be carried out on or before Tuesday, May 5.
APC candidate, Dapo Abiodun and his party had dragged the PDP and INEC to the tribunal to challenge Kashamu’s victory.
Earlier in his inaugural address, Justice Tobi described the exercise as a call to national service, saying that, “we are determined to carry out this assignment with all sense of responsibility to the glory of God and for the benefit of the Nigerian nation promoting the tenets of justice,” the tribunal chairman posited.
He appealed to all stakeholders including the media to show cooperation, adding that, the team was in the state to do their job professionally, hoping that, their integrity would not only remain intact, but would be enhanced at the end of the exercise.