Eight SANs, 48 lawyers hired to defend PDP, Adeleke at governorship election petition tribunal

By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Osun State chapter and Governor-elect, Sen. Ademola Adeleke have hired eight Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) and 42 Lawyers to defend them at the governorship election petition tribunal, sitting in Osogbo, Osun State capital.

It was gathered that the legal team of the PDP and Adeleke will be led by popular election legal experts which are: Alex Ezion, SAN; Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN; Chief Nathaniel Oke, SAN; Mr Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN; Dr Paul. Ananaba, SAN; among others.

The Deputy Director of Adeleke Campaign Council, Barr. Kolapo Alimi, told the medium yesterday that the PDP has assembled his legal team to ‘trash’ Oyetola’s petition.

According to Alimi, Oyetola’s petition at the tribunal is just a waste of the ‘precious time’ of the judiciary.

It would be recalled that the PDP had on Tuesday filed and submitted its defence to Oyetola’s petition at the tribunal, praying the court to dismiss the petition.

According to the PDP, the Governor’s petition is frivolous and baseless.

The response was submitted to the tribunal by the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Adekunle Akindele.

Akindele told the tribunal that Adeleke convincingly won the election and was duly declared the winner, stating that there was no over-voting in any of the polling units being challenged by Oyetola and the APC.

He asked the election tribunal to dismiss Oyetola’s petition, describing it as frivolous, baseless, and un-meritorious.

Maintaining that the election was free, fair and credible without any iota of non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022, Akindele said the allegations listed in Oyetola’s petition are lame and imaginary.

Akindele concluded that the petition filed by Oyetola and the APC is time-wasting and effort in futility, noting that Adeleke, the Governor-elect, fulfilled all qualification criteria and conditions to run for the election.