Omo-Agege, Oborevwori Counsels Clash At Tribunal In Delta

There was legal fireworks yesterday, during the pre-hearing conference at Delta state Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Asaba, the state, after All Progressives Congress (APC) Lead Counsel, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s counsel, Damian Dodo (SAN), got into a heated argument.

In the petition EPT/DL/Gov/3/2023, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of the People’s Democratic Party was listed as (2nd Respondent).

During the pre-hearing trial, Samson Egege holding the brief of Damian Dodo (SAN) urged the tribunal to strike out grounds one and two of the APC’s counter affidavit because it was incompetent.

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He argued that the petitioners were guilty of lumping issues together i.e. Grounds (1) which deals with (noncompliance) with Grounds (2) which deals with (corrupt practices), arguing that facts in support of each grounds should be pleaded separately.

He further argued that facts in support of non-compliance in the petition such as the use of Bi-modal Authentication System (BVAS), non-filling of INEC forms, were at variance with issues canvassed.

On Grounds (2) which deals with the majority of lawful votes cast, Egege argued that the facts pleaded only relate to allegations of inflation of votes cast, multiple thumb printing which he argued are criminal in nature.

Egege further argued that the authorities cited by Dr Izinyon (SAN) do not address the defects in the counter affidavit.

The APC legal team led by Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN) in his submission urged the tribunal to dismiss the application because it was unmeritorious.
He argued that the APC petition did not run afoul of any law, stressing that one ground is being used to support the other.
Izinyon argued, “I submit that the latest trend in legal practice shows that it is not good law because the grounds can be taken as a whole. We seek reliance on the counter affidavit to dismiss this unmeritorious application.”

Chairman of the three member panel, Justice C.H Ahuchaogu, adjourned the pre-hearing trial conference to June 5.
( Nation)