……. Security agents take over roads, restricts movements
The National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital will today deliver judgments on twelve petitions pending before it.
The Tribunal had reserved judgments on the 12 petitions since August 3, when all Counsel adopted their written addresses.
One of the cases to be determined is that of the Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District at the red chamber, Senator Buruji Kashamu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) whose election result is being challenged by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dapo Abiodun in the last election.
APC is also challenging the result of the House of Representatives election of Ijebu-North/Ijebu-East/Ogun Waterside, which returned Adesegun Adekoya of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP as against Biyi Ismail of APC.
Results of ten seats in the Ogun State House of Assembly are also under contention before the three-man Tribunal, headed by Justice Ebiowei Tobi.
Meanwhile the tribunal has warned members of the public not accredited for the proceeding to stay away from the premises of the court.
Speaking to journalists in Abeokuta yesterday on the development, Secretary to the Tribunal, Regina Kuhe disclosed that there would be restriction of movement within the court premises to prevent break down of law and order.
Kuhe explained that the Tribunal had prepared accreditation tags for journalists, direct litigants, counsel and “direct participants” who will be allowed into the premises.
She appealed to the general public to cooperate with the security operatives for effective crowd regulation in the area adding that the Tribunal would not allow the recurrence of the last incident when thugs invaded the court premises with canes.
She said, “The decision is for security reasons and because of the last incident, we need to control the crowd effectively and as such we have given out accreditation tags to direct litigants, direct participants, court officials, journalists and the Counsel.
“General public is advised to cooperate with the security for effective crowd control of the premises.”
It was gathered that judgments would be in three segments, which would likely spread till tomorrow Saturday.