Ekiti tribunal adjourns hearing after SDP counsel seeks venue decision

The Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has adjourned proceedings to September 24 after counsel for the Social Democratic Party again failed to appear in court and sought a postponement over security concerns. SDP counsel Ebenezer Akinbuli had previously raised an alleged assault and requested that the hearing be moved from Ado-Ekiti to Abuja or another venue. The tribunal had adjourned from September 16 to September 23 to allow the Court of Appeal president to consider the request.

Tribunal chairman Justice Abubakar Kutigi told the court that the Court of Appeal president, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, had declined to order a transfer. He said the tribunal was properly constituted and could continue hearing the petitions. A further letter seeking adjournment was served in the absence of the SDP’s counsel.

Counsel for the All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission, Kabir Akingbolu and Bunmi Ipinlaiye, said they were unaware of the appeal order served through the tribunal secretary. The tribunal then adjourned the matter to clear up the issue and continue proceedings. Speaking afterwards, Akingbolu said the relocation request concerned the SDP petition rather than the Action Alliance petition.

He also accused the petitioners of delaying the case through repeated adjournment requests, an allegation contained in his remarks and not established by an independent finding in the supplied material. Akingbolu further argued that the challenge to Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s victory was unusual, claiming the governor won all 16 local government areas and most of the 177 wards. Those claims were presented by the APC counsel; the supplied report does not include a response from the petitioners.