ASABA/Nigeria: The Chairmen and members of the Delta State Local Government Election Petition Tribunals have been inaugurated ahead of the forthcoming council polls in the state slated for 6th of March.
The State Chief Judge, Justice Marshall Umukoro, stated this at the High Court in Asaba, the state capital during the Swearing-in ceremony of six magistrates and members of the tribunals in the three senatorial districts of the state.
Justice Umokoro said their mandate would be to determine partitions that may arise after the council polls next month.
The CJ observed, “An election petition shall be filed within twenty one days after the declaration of the results of the election. Election Petition Tribunal shall deliver its judgment within 180 days from the date of the filing (of petition). An appeal from the decisions of the election petition tribunal shall be heard and disposed of within 90 days.”
The state Chief Judge also explained that circumstances that may lead to election petitions include the question of unqualified contestants in the polls and an election conducted under corrupt practices.
As he noted, “An election may be questioned on the grounds, that a person whose election is questioned as at time of the election not qualified to contest; finally that the petitioner or his candidate was validly nominated but was unlawfully excluded.”
One of the Chairmen of the Election Petition Tribunal in Delta North Mr. Ena Odugwu, who spoke on behalf of other members of the tribunals, pledged that they would carry out the assignment in accordance with the Delta State Election Commission Law.
