Tribunal adjourns hearing on Ben Bruce’s election

The election petition tribunal sitting in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa state, has adjourned pre-hearing on a petition challenging the senatorial election of Ben Murray Bruce (PDP-Bayelsa East) to Friday, June 19.

Ononeze Madu, chairman of the tribunal, gave the adjournment after granting the application of the counsel to the petitioner to inspect documents used during the March 28 election.

Abong Odok Ogah, counsel to complainant, Timipre Sylva, challenged the result of the election at the polls at the continuation of the pre-trial hearing.

One of the applications filed by the petitioner’s counsel sought extension of time to file a reply, which was dismissed by the tribunal.

Ogah said with the request to inspect the documents granted, the stage was set for the resumption of pre-trial hearing on June 19.

But Duro Adeleye, counsel to the respondent, noted the second motion in which the petitioner’s counsel had wanted to amend the petition so as to bring in 11 additional witnesses to the original three listed.

“Now, the relief granted them was for them to correct typographical errors,” he said.

Also, Samuel Brisbe, counsel to PDP, the third respondent, expressed satisfaction with the decisions of the tribunal.

Meanwhile, pre-trial hearing on another petition filed by the National Conscience Party (NCP) candidate, Dekidie Dekidie, challenging his exclusion from the Bayelsa central senatorial district election also took place on Friday. Emmanuel Paulker of the PDP was declared winner by INEC.

Counsel to the petitioner, Chuks Egbulonu, expressed the hope that his client will get justice at the end of the day, saying: “Exclusion from an election is a very serious issue. We are determined to fight it to the last.”

The counsel to INEC, Adedajo Adedeji, argued that the NCP candidate was not validly nominated.

“The Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) stipulates the time frame within which nomination has to be done, which is 60 days before the election,” he said. “But what we have here is lesser than the 60 days. It is the law and it has to be followed.”

The tribunal adjourned to Tuesday June 16 for pre-trial hearing.