Absence of two witnesses Thursday stalled hearing of a election petition filed by the Action Democratic Party (ADP) against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ikeja.
The ADP and its candidate, Mr Augustine Clement, had filed the petition against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP candidate for House of Representatives election in Surulere ll federal constituency– Mr Olatunji Shoyinka– and PDP.
The petitioners are seeking a declaration that Clement was validly nominated by ADP during its primary election to contest for the House of Representatives election in the constituency, and that he was unlawfully excluded by INEC from the list of candidates for the election.
The ADP and Clement are also praying the tribunal to declare null, the House of Representatives election held in the constituency on Feb. 23 in which Shoyinka was declared the winner.
The PDP leader in Lagos state, Dr Ayodele Awoleye, was in court for the proceedings, while counsel to the petitioners Mr T. Ibeyi informed the court that two witnesses – Clement and the Lagos state chairman of ADP, were absent.
“Unfortunately, the two witnesses for the petitioners are unavailable to give evidence today.
“The first witness, who is the second petitioner (Clement) is unavailable on health grounds, while the second witness (ADP chairman) is in the FCT for an event.
“We are asking for an adjournment for the second petitioner to give evidence tomorrow,” Ibeyi said.
Reacting, counsel to the respondents opposed the request, and asked that the tribunal should award costs against the petitioners.
The chairman of the tribunal, Justice Kunaza Hamidu, however, ruled that the respondents were not entitled to any cost, saying that the days set aside for hearing of the petition had not elapsed.
The chairman adjourned hearing of the petition until May 14. (NAN)
