The Chairman of the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, Justice Sobere Biando, has issued a stern warning to litigants, emphasizing that unnecessary delays will not be tolerated during the proceedings. Justice Sobere made this cautionary statement at the close of pre-hearing in the case involving the nomination of Samuel Ode as Benue deputy governor, a dispute between the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Highlighting the importance of timeliness in election petitions, Justice Sobere clarified that the matter at hand revolves solely around the improper nomination of a candidate and not election rigging. He further stated that the tribunal aims to conclude the case within 25 days.
The schedule for the case hearing was outlined as follows: Petitioners will present their case from July 14th to July 20th, 2023. After a brief break, the panel will proceed with the first respondent’s evidence from July 3rd to July 7th. The second respondent will have their turn from July 10th to July 14th, followed by the third respondent from July 17th to July 21st. Lastly, the fourth respondent will present their case from July 24th to July 28th, 2023.
Preliminary motions, if necessary, will be addressed on July 31st and may extend to August 1st, 2023. From August 2nd to August 28th, written addresses will be filed, and adoption will take place on August 31st. Both parties will file and adopt addresses simultaneously. There will be a period of 10 days for Petitioners and 5 days for respondents to reply on points of law.