Again, Tribunal Adjourns Gbagi’s Petition against Oborevwori, Others

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Asaba, the Delta State capital, has adjourned pre-trial hearing in the petition by the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, challenging the victory of the state Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and the then standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18, 2023, governorship election.

Although, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Oborevwori as the winner of the election, the former minister of state for education had approached the election petitions court questioning the illegibility of the PDP candidate as well others, including the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.

However, the three-member tribunal panel headed by Justice C.H. Ahuchaogu on the earlier adjourned date, June 13,

2023, again adjourned the petition until June 19 to enable all parties tidy up all applications.

Respective counsel to the 13 respondents had at the panel’s sitting on June 1, 2023, directed to file and serve the applications to the different questions from the petitioner by June 9.

 Addressing journalists after the adjournment, Gbagi’s lead counsel, Magaji Matto Ibrahim (SAN), said: “There are so many applications by way of motion, and only one out of them was ripe for hearing.

Ibrahim said: “What that means is that only one (application) has been duly responded to out of the several applications that were there.

“So, the tribunal in its wisdom thought it wise that instead of taking the applications piecemeal, the pre-trial should be adjourned to June 19, so that by that time, all applications must have been responded to and then they will be taken simultaneously in one sitting.

“And, I think that is the wisdom according to them, which is also okay by all counsel; and we all agreed that we should return to this honourable tribunal by June 19 to tidy up all the applications before we commence hearing in this petition.”

Asked if he was satisfied with the legal fireworks in the tribunal, the legal luminary observed that: “It is one of the most organised, orderly and peaceful pre-trial, adding that: “The attitude of the Justices of the tribunal is also very friendly, and the atmosphere in the tribunal is also friendly too.

“Lawyers are cooperating, and we are sure that the opportunity will avail itself for us as petitioners to prove our petitions, and by the special grace of God, we await the outcome the tribunal.”