By Amaechi Okwara
Asaba
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate in the just concluded governorship election in Delta state, Olorogun Otegar Emerhor, of stalling trials in the on-going Election Petitions Tribunal.
INEC and PDP spoke through Mr. A.T Kehinde at the resumed hearing of the pre-hearing conference proceedings at the State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
Kehinde told the tribunal that counsel to APC and O’tega , Mr. Thomson Okpoko, was exploiting legal loopholes to frustrate the ongoing trail with the plethora of applications being brought before the tribunal, arguing that “my position with greatest respect is that ,justice delayed is justice denied, we must be giving a level playing ground to ventilate our clients position, his motion asking for better and further particulars have been caught by the previous ruling of this tribunal.”
Reacting to Kehinde’s submission, Okpoko argued: “I don’t think it’s right to suggest that there is an insinuation, or there is a suggestion, or an impression, or a perception created that somebody is delaying hearing of this election petition, we have been coming and we have been getting with it , so we have agreed that the petition should be taken to Monday, Monday hear we came, so that is the position my lord.”
He told the tribunals that the need for the extension of time was expedient as that will enable the court have modalities for the direction of the proceedings.
Justice Gunmi, who used the opportunity to identify and harmonise all pending applications and motions from petitioners and the respondents in a ruling, said some of the motions and applications, that will not lead to the termination of the tribunal.
He subsequently adjourned the further hearing on the matter to August 3, 2015, for continuation of the pre-trial.
