New Nigeria People's Party,NNPP has threatened to petition National Judicial Council NJC over what it described as late Inauguration of Election Petition Tribunal and delay tactics in handling petitions by aggrieved candidates and political parties, as regards the conduct of the July 24 councils'poll in Ogun state
The State Chief Judge,Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu on Thursday inagugurated two separate three-member panels of the tribunal led by Mr.Akintunde Olurotimi Oyeyinka and Otunba Rotimi Onafadeji
But the State Chairman of NNPP, Comrade Olaposi Oginni who issued the threat in a statement on Friday in Abeokuta, alleged that the Inauguration was done 12days after the local government election was held, leaving just two days to the expiration of 14days provision allowed in the Electoral Act for filling petition against the conduct of such elections in Nigeria
Oginni expressed the party displeasure, saying nothing was on ground at the tribunal offices located at the Magistrate Court Complex in Isabo area of the state capital, as at 1pm on Friday when NNPP approached the officer in charge to file its petition (s) challenging the outcome of the councils'poll
The party alleged that filing such petition on Monday as instructed by the officer attached to the tribunal,would have been two days after the 14days period provision of the Electoral Act
Oginni accused the State Judiciary of conspiring with Governor Dapo Abiodun to frustrate moves by opposition parties, to challenge the results of the election announced in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC for the 20 Chairmanship seats and 236 Councillorship seats at the poll
According to the party,"setting up the tribunal at the eleventh hour, is a deliberate ploy by the Prince Dapo Abiodun's administration to frustrate the opposition parties in contesting the conduct of the July 24 councils'poll by the State Independent Electoral Commission OGSIEC"
"This calls for a big question on the Independence of the judiciary in the state, opposition parties, especially NNPP will be left with no option than to call the attention of the National Judicial Council NJC to look into this unhealthy collaboration between judiciary and governor of the state as regards seeking redress on the outcome of the July 24 local government election in the state,the party alleged
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