Osun election: Tribunal reconstituted, grants PDP’s exparte application

A newly constituted election tribunal for Osun gubernatorial election on Monday delivered its ruling on an exparte applications brought by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for substituted service and to take custody of the certified copies of materials used for the just concluded exercise.

DAILY POST recalls that the disbandment of the election petition panel earlier constituted has generated a lot of fuss, as PDP members accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of a covert move to subvert justice.

Meanwhile, the two applications brought forward by the PDP were premised on the order of the court to serve the petitions and other processes on the second and third respondents, which in this case is the APC, and Governor-elect, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, through substituted means before the pre-hearing section.

Justice Peter Obiora, who delivered the ruling on behalf of the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Muhammad Siraju, said the tribunal was satisfied with the report of services and that there was merit in the application.

Obiora said the essence of granting the applications was to bring proceedings to the attention and notice of the respondents in the substantial suit before the tribunal, as he promised that the tribunal would live up to its expectation without bias.

Speaking with newsmen after the sitting, Counsel to PDP, Mr Nathaniel Oke said the rationale behind the two applications was to allow them serve the second respondent ( Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola) and third respondents (APC) which had not been successfully done.

“The second application was to seek the leave of the tribunal for the purpose of taking certified true copies of the materials used for the election on Sept. 22 and the rerun of Sept. 27 which would be useful as the tribunal continues sitting.

“The Court granted the two applications, and gave room for two people from the two respondents to serve as observers during the inspection”, Oke said.