The Osun State Election Petition Tribunal on Monday adjourned sitting to October 4, 2022 for commencement of pre-hearing of the petition before it after agreeing with the submission of legal teams of Senator Nurudeen Jackson Ademola Adeleke, PDP and that of INEC, to allow them statutory period of 7days to respond to the pre-hearing form of the tribunal.
APC lead Counsel, Kayode Olatoke had pleaded with the tribunal to stand down the sitting of the tribunal for one or two hours for defendants to hurriedly file their responses, a position sternly opposed by counsels to defendants.
Ben Ananaba (SAN), N.O.O Oke (SAN) and Bamidele Abolarin, counsels to INEC, Senator Ademola Adeleke and the PDP respectively had concurrently submitted that the tribunal allowed the respondents the statutory period within which to file their responses in the interest of fair hearing and justice.
Justice Tertsea Kume after granting defendants request, Chairman of the tribunal promised to work assiduously, including weekends and possibly public holidays in the course of their assignment as judicial arbiters on the Governorship Election.
Addressing newsmen after the brief sitting of the tribunal, Barrister N.O.O Oke assured member of the public that justice will be served in favour of Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke and the PDP this time around as against the negative experience of 2018.
The legal luminary expressed confidence on the preparedness of the legal team to go the whole hog of the legal fireworks and secure victory in line with the voice of electorate, who voted massively for Senator Ademola Adeleke in the July 16 governorship election.
The PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman in Osun State, Dr Akindele Adekunle who led other PDP stalwarts to the much publicized opening sitting, also expressed confidence in the judiciary to do justice to the petition before it. The PDP helmsman noted that what transpired at the tribunal on Monday was necessary foundation for justice which the PDP stands for at the tribunal.
Dr Akindele assured the good people of Osun State that the governor-elect, Senator Adeleke Ademola Nurudeen will do everything within legal framework, to defend people’s mandate bestowed on him by the collective resolve of suffering masses of Osun State.
