The Election Petition Tribunal chiefly involving Senator Rasheed Ladoja of the Accord Party and the incumbent governor; Senator Abiola Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) finally had headway with the resumption of the substantive chairman that was approved by the Federal Court of Appeal.

The tribunal sat  yesterday, July 21 before their Lordships; Hon. Justice Muhammed Aliyu Mayaki, Hon. Muhammed Karaye and Hon. Justice J. Ikede at the State High Court Iyaganku, Ibadan.

The petition tribunal which had been stalled in the last one month began today with the pre-hearing of applications filed by the petitioner and respondents. The lead counsel of the Executive Governor of Oyo state who happens to be the first respondent, Mr. Wole Olanipekun (SAN) reminded their Lordships that they had earlier prayed the Tribunal to strike out the entire petition in a motion filed 13^th June, 2015.  The lead counsel of the All Progressive Congress; Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) also noted that he filed a similar motion praying the Tribunal to strike out the entire reply filed by the petitioner to the first respondent’s reply.

The lead counsel of the petitioner; Pastor Richard Ogunwole (SAN) however stated that the law of the electoral act stipulated that all applications should be heard with the substantive action and to that effect, had filed an application on the 3^rd of July, in response to the various motions which the respondents intended moving. Pastor Richard Ogunwole (SAN) had also earlier filed a motion praying for consolidation since 3^rd July, 2015 but unfortunately, none of the respondents was duly served and the senior counsel had no other option than to blame the bailiff for not relaying it to the respondents in time.

That however came in handy as leverage for counsels of the respondents who insisted that the fact that they were yet to be served the motion does not then make the motion right for hearing. The lead counsel of the petitioner however pleaded with the tribunal and the respondents were served during the court sitting. Mr. Wole Olanipekun (SAN) impressed it upon their Lordships that they were entitled to seven days to file their replies under the rules and schedules but would willingly volunteer to file his response within the next four days so as to help the tribunal sit in time.

The lead counsels of the second and third respondents; Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and Mr Adegboye Sobanjo (Esquire) also volunteered to file their replies within the next four days. Efforts by counsels of the respondents to plead for more time on account of their concession fell on deaf ears as Hon. Justice Muhammed Aliyu Mayaki insisted that it is only the petitioner who can ask for more time. The case was therefore adjourned till July 28^th`for further hearing.