The Edo 1 Electoral Petitions Tribunal (EPT1), has asked all parties before the Tribunal to be diligent and avoid delaying the submission of unnecessary applications in the processing of their petitions.
Judge Yusuf Mohammed, president of the three-man EPT1, made the charge during the opening session of the panel on Wednesday in Benin City, the capital of Edo state.
Judge Mohammed said that the court’s duty is to consider and determine the petitions filed before him by the various petitioners which he said are 15 in number.
He urged the parties to cooperate with the panel and always do what is necessary for the court to judiciously dispatch all petitions within the constitutionally stipulated period.
Mohammed maintained that the court would meet every day except Sunday, which would serve as a day of rest from the week.
He reiterated that there would be no extension for the presentation of petitions once the 21-day term established by law has expired, as well as adding that there would be no place for the modification of petitions when the established term expires.
On the subject of preliminary objections, he instructed lawyers to take note of them and argue for them during their final written speeches with established points of law, including what might constitute a basis for such objections, so that the court would rule. thereon together with the issuance of judgment as provided in sec 285(8) of the constitution of the federal republic of nigeria as amended.
Judge Mohammed said there are two panels set up by the appeals court to determine the petitions brought before it, noting that the other panel would open within the week.
“As a follow-up to the general elections held on February 25 and March 18, 2023, the honorable president of the court of appeals establishes this panel for us to come, sit down, and determine the petitions that came out of the national and state house. assembly elections.
“Our duty is to know and resolve the petitions filed within the 180 days provided by the constitution. So, because of the number of petitions filed, the appellate court president saw fit to send a second panel so that we can resolve all the petitions within 180 days,” he said.
