The Osun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has fixed October 26 for hearing of the petition filed by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the declaration of Senator Ademola Adeleke (PDP), as the Governor-elect.

The chairman of the tribunal, Justice Tertsea Kume, fixed the date after the conclusion of the pre-hearing session on Thursday in Osogbo.

Mr Kume also announced that the pre-hearing conference reports would be presented on October 17, while proper hearing would begin on October 26.

He also said that 10 different motions were filed with responses and heard together by both the petitioners and respondents.

Earlier, the Counsel for Oyetola and APC, Professor Lasun Sanusi (SAN), told the tribunal that he had responded to all the motions filed and also adopted the same on issues formulated.

Mr Sanusi was replying to separate applications by the respondents, seeking the dismissal of the petition based on the Federal High Court judgment in Abuja disqualifying Mr Oyetola from contesting the election.

He said the judgment had been appealed, urging the court to dismiss the motion brought by the respondents pending the determination by the appellate court.

Counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alex Iziyon (SAN), urged the tribunal not to entertain the applications filed by the petitioners on the point of the law.

Mr Iziyon said that since APC did not argue against the responses to the application filed, it should be dismissed based on wants of jurisdiction.

Counsel to INEC, Paul Ananaba, told the tribunal that the judgment by the Federal High Court, which nullified Mr Oyetola’s candidacy has no stay of execution and the tribunal should abide by it.

However, counsel for all the parties in the matter agreed to begin the full hearing, with calling of witnesses, on October 26.

(NAN)