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Tony Osauzo, Benin
A three-man election petitions tribunal has commenced its inaugural in Benin, the Edo state capital.
The tribunal is expected to handle petitions brought before it by candidates of various political parties concerning the outcome of the February 23 National Assembly and March 9 state Assembly elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission in the state.
During the sitting, only counsel to either candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who are petitioners in the case was present in court while those of the respondents were absent.
Journalists who were in court left disappointed at the end of the three-hour sitting as the secretary of the panel of judges refused to disclose the names of members of the tribunal.
The secretary, Mr. Musa Bako, claimed that he was under strict instruction not to disclose their identities.
He said a letter specifically addressed to him came with the mandate not to state their names except to officials of the European Union, (EU).
Meanwhile, the tribunal made up of two males and a female, during the sitting granted the APC and PDP petitioners leave to serve their petitions on various respondents at designated addresses in line with their ex parte motions and prayers.
Among those whose petitions were granted by the tribunal include Uwa Osunbor of the PDP against Patrick Aisowieren, APC, INEC, REC (Edo), Election Officer for Uhumwonde/Orhiomwon as respondents in the election held for the House of Representatives poll; Omosede Igbinedion and PDP against INEC, Dennis Idahosa, APC as respondents; Blessing Agbomere/PDP (petitioner) against Johnson Oghuma, APC, INEC and the Collation Officer for Etsako federal constituency.
Others were Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonyinma, APC against Jude Ise Idehen, PDP and INEC as respondents as well as that of Patrick Idaike, APC against Joe Ediowele and the PDP respectively.
In the petitions against Senate seat, the tribunal granted the prayers of counsel to the APC candidate for Edo Central, John Inegbedion, to serve his petition on Clifford Ordia, the PDP and INEC while Abubakar Momoh secured the nod of the tribunal to serve the Edo North Senator-elect, Francis Alilikhena, the APC and INEC respectively.
