From CHRISTIANA EKPA, Lokoka
Kogi State Governorship Election PetitionsTribunal sitting in Lokoja has struck out two motions seeking interlocutory injunction to stop the inauguration of the Governor-elect, Yahaya Bello as the governor on 27th January,2016.
The Tribunal Chairman, Justice Halima S .Mohammed in her ruling dismissed the motions, saying the tribunal has Jurisdiction contrary to insinuations, but the motions were not contained in the original petitions just motion on notice.
She explained that if court granted the motions filled by the Peoples Democratic Party and labour Party, it will definitely affect the life of the original case before the court.
The Chairman noted that the motions seeking the order of tribunal to stop the inauguration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as the incoming governor of the state were not part of the case before the tribunal.
The Tribunal also dismissed the motion filed by Ruben Egwaba, the counsel to Labour Party seeking stop the inauguration of Yahaya Bello because he has no Deputy as at the period of supplementary election of 5th December 2015,
Justice Mohammed urged that all the Parties in case must present for the accelerated hearing of substantive case which will commence from next sitting, warning that the tribunal will no longer entertain the pre hearing matters again.
The counsel to Wada,A .Akubo commended the tribunal ruling, saying that the present scenario in the state is novel and based on the novelty, the world is watching Kogi state.
Egwaba,the counsel to the Labour Party also lauded the tribunal for ruling, saying they are ready for the substantive suite before the court.