The new Special Court of Appeal Penal Panel constituted to resolve all appeals in the Ondo State PDP governorship candidate for the November 26 election has once again been asked to step aside.
Justice Ibrahim Salauwa, leading the three member panel had on Friday in Abuja opened hearing in the multiple appeals.
The new special panel had succeeded the Justice Jummai Sankey’s panel which disqualified itself on November 2 following accusation of fraud against the members.
Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Senator Ben Obi, Biyi Poroyo, Eyitayo Jegede, and Jimoh Ibrahim are parties in the matter.
The Executive of PDP South West Zone, Ondo State Executive members of the party are also interested parties.
The PDP at the moment is factionalised with both Sheriff an Makarfi factions claiming sole power to make decision for the party at the National level.
The panel, among other things is, therefore, to determine the legitimate faction empowered to conduct governorship primaries of the party.
At resumed hearing, the Panel had sought for the identification and harmonisation of all the processes before it was suddenly approached with another “shocking’’ prayer.
The court was again, asked to reverse the decision by its President, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa to constitute a fresh panel to hear appeals relating to the dispute.
In a motion filed by Mr Godswill Mrakpo, counsel to the Sheriff-led faction asked the court to disband the panel forthwith.
The two other justices that make up the panel are Igwe Aguba, and George Mbaba.
Mrakpo alleged that the Panel was set up in breach of the applicant’ right to fair hearing guaranteed under Section 36 of the Constitution.
According to appellant, the court lacks jurisdiction to constitute the panel to hear the matter expeditiously.
He equally prayed the court to order the return of the case files relating to all the appeals to the Registry of the court.
He further averred that time must be set aside for the hearing of the appellant’s petition brought against the President of the court by the National Judicial Council.
However, Chief Wole Olanikpekun (SAN), counsel to Jegede, had prayed the leave of court to appeal the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, that ceded the Certificate of Returns to Jimoh Ibrahim.
Olanipekun, urged the court to grant expeditious hearing to the application because the matter required urgent attention.
The Chairman of the Panel adjourned the matter till November 7.
