The Ondo State Governorship Petition Tribunal at its inaugural sitting, on Friday in Akure, assured all parties appearing before it of fair hearing and justice.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that tribunal received five petitions challenging the outcome of the Nov. 16, 2024, governorship election.
The three-man panel consists Justice Benson Ogbu, Justice Imelda Etape and Justice Sikka Duarabo.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state had declared Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who is currently completing the term of the late Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu, winner of election.
The five petitioners are seeking that the Nov. 16 election should be declared invalid on grounds of non-compliance with the provisions of Electoral Act.
The petitioners are: Action Alliance and its candidate, Mr Abdullahi Olowokere, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Chief Bamidele Akingboye.
Others are:Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Mr Agboola Ajayi, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and its candidate, Kolawole Ogunfeyimi, and African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its candidate, Mr Adeyemi Nejo.
While the respondents are: All Progressives Party (APC), Aiyedatiwa and his running mate, Mr Olayide Adelami, and INEC.
Speaking at the inaugural sitting of the tribunal, the chairman of the panel, Ogbu, asked for cooperation of all counsel in the matter.
He pleaded with counsel to parties not to preempt the decisions of the tribunal, adding that they should not be in a haste to address the press, but rather wait till the final decision of the tribunal.
According to him, the use of phones or any device in recording and capturing the tribunal’s proceedings and faces of justices will not be allowed.
The chairman asked anyone in doubt to approach the secretariat of the tribunal for clarification.
Ogbu, thereafter, adjourned sitting of the tribunal to Feb. 10.
Speaking to newsmen after the sitting, the winner of the election, Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, said that he only came to attend the tribunal’s proceedings since learning is a continuum.
Aiyedatiwa stated that the November election was fair, free and peaceful as posited by majority of stakeholders.
“ The election was peaceful and was described as one of the most peaceful, free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria in recent times.
“There is nothing to worry about, but to witness the proceedings of the tribunal having the crème de la crème of the legal profession and the well learned justices.
“And we all know that learning is a continuum,” he said.
NAN reports that INEC had, on Nov. 17, declared Aiyedatiwa winner of the election, having polled a total of 366,781 to defeat his closest rival, Ajayi, of PDP, who scored 117,846 votes.
