Tribunal Resumed yesterday as scheduled in Abuja

Sitting resumed at 10am with APC/OYETOLA represented by lawyers led Olujimi SAN and Olanipekun SAN While PDP Team was led by Chief NOO OKE SAN, Dr Paul Ananaba SAN, and Kehinde Ogunwumiju SAN.

The PDP Governorship and Deputy Governorship candidates in the last Osun Governorhip election, Senator Ademola Adeleke and Prince Abiodun Adeogun were present in court to personally oversee the proceedings.

At the opening of the Pre Hearing Conference, the APC/OYETOLA Team went on announce that they had filed 4 different applications before the tribunal which want heard and decided before court can proceed on the real election matters.

The applications border on:
1. That the Tribunal lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter.
2. That PDP Petition is stated barred and should be thrown out because PDP didn't file on the 22nd of September when they were claiming to have won.
3. That by participating in the suplementary election, PDP had waived their right to petition against it.
4. That certain parts of PDP reply to original petition should be struck out because it introduces new PU issues that was not included in the original Petiton which is against petiton rules......

PDP lawyers amidst heated arguments were able to make the tribunal aware of an amendment to the constitution in section 285 sub 8 which makes all applications to be heard but decision/ruling must be reserved till final judgment on the substantive petition.

So PDP were able to get the Tribunal back on track to comply and reserve decision till later, this allows the substantive Petiton to proceed unhindered.

Meanwhile the Tribunal must sit and run for a maximum of 180 days. This means if no decision is reached in 180 days from date of filing petiton, then the case expire.

The Tribunal thereafter adjourned till Friday the 7th of December for continuationTribunal sat yesterday as scheduled