Connect with us

Politics

OGUN: Drama as LP guber candidate disowns lawyer at tribunal

Published

on

The Labour Party (LP) in Ogun which is seeking to nullify the March 9 governorship election over the alleged exclusion of its party’s name, logo and symbol on the ballot papers, on Monday, disowned its counsel at the Election Petition Tribunal.

Labour Party’s Governorship Candidate, Modupe Sanyaolu and the party chairman, Abayomi Arabambi refused to acknowledge a legal practitioner who announced his appearance for them at the inaugural sitting of Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

Two petitions were filed before for the tribunal by two factions of LP – Arabambi -led faction and Sunday Oginni’s faction – but the petitions paraded Sanyaolu as the candidate.

READ ALSO: Why I want to be Speaker – Gbajabiamila

However, trouble began when Counsel to Oginni-led LP faction, Kehinde Ayanwale informed Justice Chinwe Onyeabor-led panel of his preparedness to move a motion exparte regarding the first petition marked EPT/OG/GOV/02/2019.

Sanyaolu and Arabambi who addressed the tribunal separately, disowned Ayanwale, saying they never briefed him to file petition on their behalf.

“I don’t know him, I never briefed him. I briefed Sofola SAN who is my lawyer. My Lord, please help me, I don’t understand this,” Sanyaolu said.

Their Counsel, Hassan Balogun had told the tribunal not to allow the motion/petition, which according to him, was filed without the knowledge of the petitioners.

“My Lord, If the petition is allowed, justice will not prevailed because the petitioners will be shut out,” he said.

The party’s Legal Adviser, Monday Mawah equally told the tribunal that there was “no suit in court suggesting faction within the party.”

The Tribunal however, said it would not give either of the party any date as it adjourned indefinitely.

The Tribunal, however, stopped the application over non-fulfilment of conditions required to file a petition before the tribunal.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now