The Bayelsa Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, has struck-out nine petitions and dismissed five out of the twenty-eight filed. The tribunal relocated to Abuja on April 30.
Although no reason was given for the relocation, sources said the decision might not be unconnected with the security challenges in the state.
The Secretary of the tribunal, Dah Akawu, said that the nine petitions, including two for the Senate and three for the State House of Assembly were dismissed for failure of the petitioners to file pre-trial processes within the seven stipulated days. He added that only 14 petitions were still pending before the tribunal.
The suit was dismissed because the petitioners filed their pre-trial application out of time. It was reported that there are two panels sitting in the election petition matters.
Panel
One has Justice Kenneth Wosu as chairman and Justices Haruna Offo and Habibu
Mukailu as members. Justice Lambert Azuama, sits as chairman for Panel Two,
while Justices Ruqayat Ayoola and Linda Yaroson are members.
