Bayelsa election tribunal splits, adjourns for two weeks

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Bayelsa election tribunal splits, adjourns for two weeks

The Bayelsa State National Assembly and state House of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Yenagoa has been split into two panels.

While Justice Sabiu Shuaibu would be in charge of panel one, Justice Oluwatoyin Fagbemi would preside over panel two to determine petitions filed by aggrieved candidates and their political parties before the court.

Justice Shuaibu disclosed this during the inaugural sitting of his panel on Monday.

He said the office of the President of the Court of Appeal created the two panels due to the number of litigations arising from the 2023 parliamentary polls in Bayelsa.

According to him, a total of 30 petitions received by the tribunal for adjudication had been shared between the two panels.

Justice Shuaibu said his panel would conduct hearing into five and 10 National Assembly and state House of Assembly petitions, respectively, while the panel two would handle similar number of petitions.

He said, “The tribunal thanks members of the Bar for their cooperation throughout the period it entertained the preliminary applications, and solicits that it continues till the determination of all the petitions before it.

“We are all aware that it is a constitutional requirement that the tribunal concludes hearing in the petitions and deliver judgment within 180 days from the date of filing of the petition. The said 180 days have long started counting.

“Undoubtedly, the bench and the Bar, who are major players in the administration of justice, need mutual co-operation, understanding and respect for each other for effective and seamless adjudication of cases, to strengthen our democracy and rule of law.”

While adjourning proceedings till May 22, Justice Shuaibu promised petitioners that the tribunal would dispense justice to all parties before it in accordance with evidence-led and applicable law.

The secretary of the Bayelsa tribunal, Abba Dahiru, had disclosed on May 4 that the court received a total of 31 election petitions but one was withdrawn.