Elections Petition Tribunal Starts Hearing On Sylva's Suit Against Murray Bruce

The Bayelsa State Election Petition Tribunal Wednesday began a pre-trial hearing in the petition filed by former Governor of the state and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in last National Assembly election for Bayelsa East senatorial district, Chief Timipre Sylva against the declaration of media mogul, Mr. Ben Murray Bruce as senator-elect.

Thisday Report;

Sylva  had approached the tribunal headed by Justice C. A. Ononoeze Madu to declare the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bruce not qualified to contest the April 8 National Assembly election due to his dual citizenship and the refusal to relinquish such before the election.

He also prayed the court that due to the irregularities and manipulations allegedly carried out by the PDP and their agents during the elections in Brass and other parts of the senatorial district, his candidature should be upheld and be declared valid winner of the National Assembly election.

At the hearing on Wednesday, Abang Odok Ogar, counsel to Sylva engaged in legal arguments with the counsel of Senator Ben Murray Bruce, Chief Duro Adeleye and the counsel to the INEC, Samuel Brisibe over the legality of the motion for the extension of time to respond to the objection raised by the defendants to the Sylva’s petition.

Abang Odok Ogar urged the court to grant the motion for an extension of time to respond to the objections raised by the duo of the Chief Duro Olaleye, counsel Murray-Bruce and counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. Samuel Brisibe.

While Odok Ogar argued that the motion for extension of time was based on mandatory position of law, he noted with reference to Egbese & co versus PDP in 2015 according to the Court of Appeal reports, that the motion can be granted and cannot be stopped due to the rule of the court.

The counsel to Bruce argued that the authority cited by Sylva’s counsel is not applicable to the argument before the tribunal,” it is not a question of rule but it is a matter of statute.”

The presiding judge, Justice C. A. Ononoeze Madu, however fixed June 12 for ruling on the application by the Sylva’s counsel for the motion for extension of time.