by Christiana Gokyo, Jos

The Plateau State election tribunal sitting in Jos, the state capital has adjourned the Governship, National and State House of Assembly Inaugural Sitting and Pre-Hearing to 25th May, 2023.

Our correspondent gathered that, Monday 15th May, 2023, was earlier slated for the tribunal official Inaugural Sitting and Pre-Hearing.

When the court resumed sitting, Pious Akubo (SAN) moved an oral application for the tribunal to adjourn the official Inaugural Sitting and Pre-Hearing of the tribunal, which supposed to have kick-started today, 15th May, 2023, for more 10 days.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who was speaking on behalf of the Inner Bar, said the oral application was imperative to enable all the parties involved to effect their respective service to avoid any hiccup when the tribunal sitting officially commences, and parties will start the excuses of not served or not yet been served.

He noted that, “As it stands right now, even most of the cases are not ripe to be entertained by the tribunal in line with the law.”

He, however, noted that, with the oral application for adjournment for more 7-10 days, it will help to solve some teething problems that may likely come up from non service and reception of service.

He maintained that when the application for adjournment scales through – depending the overriding discretion of the honourable tribunal – and more 7-10 days added for Inaugural Sitting and Pre-Hearing, some of the cases would have been ripe for determination; subsequently, the others as sittings progress.

After due consultations, the tribunal finally adjourned the official Inaugural Sitting and Pre-Hearing to 25th May, 2023, after due consultations.

It would be recalled that the 2023 election tribunal, which is expected to commence sitting in the state capital, has received the total number of 17 elections petitions, ranging from Governorship, House of Representatives, Senate and State House of Assembly.