Kwara CJ Inaugurates Local Government Election Petition Tribunal

Kwara CJ Inaugurates Local Government Election Petition Tribunal

The Kwara State Chief Judge, Justice Abiodun Adebara, on Thursday, swore in two sets of local government election petition tribunals to try electoral cases that may emanate after the state September 21, 2024, LG election.

The election petition tribunal has three members each in both sets.

Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony of the tribunal held at the conference room of Kwara State Judiciary, the CJ charged the panel members to deal with election cases speedily.

He said, “Election petitions are by their nature peculiar from the point of view of public policy.

“It is a requirement of the rule of law and part of the mechanism of the democratic process that after any election, there should be an election tribunal to ventilate and determine disputes that may arise from such an election. The institution of an election tribunal has always helped to assuage anxieties and calm frayed nerves.”

He also said that he and the state’s Grand Kadi are satisfied that the officers of the state judiciary who were selected to serve on the tribunal are officers of proven integrity and competence.

Adebara, who said that non- inclusion of members of the Bar was not a slight on them, said that they would be accommodated in the future.

The CJ also announced that an election registry has already been established in the High Court Complex.

Responding on behalf of others, Chief Magistrate Jibril Bio Salihu, expressed gratitude and appreciation to the state judiciary on their selection, pledging that they would not disappoint on the task given.

Members of the tribunal for the first panel include Jibril Bio Salihu – Chairman, while Muhammed Aluko and Adeniyi  Moses were members.

The second election tribunal panel consisted of Abubakar Mohammed Ndakene as chairman, with Adebola Mercy and Abdulhamid Olatunji as members.