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Ahead of the September 21 local government election in Kwara State, the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Abiodun Adebara, on Thursday, swore in two sets of election petition tribunals to hear disputes that may emanate from the election.
Each set is a three-man panel, comprising a chairman and two members.
The first panel has the Chief Magistrate, Jibril Salihu as chairman, with Muhammed Aluko and Adeniyi Moses as members, while the second panel has the Chief Magistrate, Abubakar Ndakene as chairman, with Adebola Mercy and Abdulhamid Olatunji as members.
Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony of members of the tribunal, held at the Conference Room of the Kwara State Judiciary, Justice Adebara charged the panel members to deal with election cases speedily.
“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 said.
The Chief Judge also said he was satisfied with the officers selected to serve on the tribunal, as they were men of proven integrity and competence.
“I am, therefore, confident that they will discharge their onerous responsibility without fear or favour, affection or ill will,” he said.
Justice Adebara, who said the non-inclusion of members of the Bar was not a slight, said that they would be accommodated in the future.
“I wish, therefore, to enjoin all members of the Bar appearing before the tribunal to make excellence their watchword.
“They should not forget that they are fellow ministers in the temple of justice with the chairman and members of the tribunal.
“I hope that every counsel appearing before the tribunal will behave in the best tradition of our great and noble profession,” he said.
The CJ also announced that an election registry had been established in the High Court complex.
Responding on behalf of the panels, Salihu expressed gratitude to the state judiciary, the CJ and the Grand Kadi for their selection and pledged that they would not disappoint.
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