In anticipation of the Tribunal’s Ruling on the Election Petition of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Pastor Ize-Iyamu, concerning the declaration of Mr. Godwin Obaseki as Governor of Edo State, there is a need for something of an eschatology – shape of things to come, independent of sub judice.
To start with, Edo’s Election Tribunal restrained the (PDP) and its candidate in the September 28 governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, from utilising any equipment to examine, scan, or howsoever interact with the ballot papers used in the election unless the integrity of such equipment had been demonstrated and cleared by the Election Petition Tribunal.
Secondly, the Judges rejected PDP and Pastor Ize-Iyamu’s application for extension of time to call more witnesses at the Election tribunal.
According to the Chairman of the three-member panel, Justice Ahmed Badamasi, the tribunal lacked the powers to grant such an extension and the application lacked merit. Consequently, the PDP and Ize-Iyamu had to close their case.
Again, the tribunal declined PDP and Ize-Iyamu’s bid to amend their petition. Shortly after, the tribunal ruled against another attempt by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to make amendments to a paragraph in the petition.
The Tribunal Chairman, Justice Ahmed Badamasi, held that the amendment could not be made by mere application. Since justice was not a one-way traffic, the application was described as fraudulent and an attempt to amend the main petition.
Ruling on the application, Justice Badamasi held that the correction could not be made by mere utterances, and that the petitioners has not stated any reasons justifying why they wanted to make the amendment.
When the PDP and its candidate were carrying out scanning of ballot papers without the representatives of APC and Obaseki, the Tribunal ordered Ize-Iyamu to comply with an earlier order that all parties to the case must be represented in the scanning of the ballot materials. While the petitioners appealed the Tribunal’s decision to cease ballot recount after the 14 days allocated to them were expired, the Appeal Court dismissed the bid to continue the ballot recount, adding that the petitioners’ appeal lacked merit.
The straw that would finally break the Camel’s back would be – Counsels to Obaseki and APC urged the Tribunal, with ample citing of previous Supreme Court rulings, to dismiss the petition because there was no sanctity in the identity of one of the petitioners, and so there was no validity to the petition among other 4 issues for determination.
Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Ahmed Badamasi adjourned the sitting and ruling on the matter to a later date, which will be communicated to the parties involved. Please, dont be tempted to ask me the likely result! But, you can apply logic. However, see you on Judgment Day!! J
Written by John Mayaki, Chief Press Secretary (Interim), Governor’s Office, Government House Benin City, Edo State
08038380339, 08075555111
