The Kwara State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Abiodun Ayodele Adebara, on Thursday swore in two separate Local Government Election Petition Tribunals for the 2024 local government polls.
The tribunals, which consist of three members each, were charged with the responsibility of resolving petitions that might arise from the conduct of the elections.
The members of the first tribunal include Chief Magistrate Jibril Bio Salihu, Chairman, Muhammed Kola Aluko, and Adeniyi Oluwaseyi Moses as members.
The second tribunal’s members include Chief Magistrate Abubakar Mohammed Ndakene, Chairman, Adebola Mercy Feyisayo, and Abdulhamid Yusuf Olatunji as members.
Justice Adebara said that the tribunals were constituted in line with Sections 97 and 98 of the Kwara State Local Government Election Law, CAP K32 Laws of Kwara State 2006 (as amended).
According to the CJ, the section requires the constitution of the tribunal within 40 days of the date of the Local Government Election in the state.
“It is a requirement of the rule of law and part of the mechanism of the democratic process that after any election, there should be an election tribunal to ventilate and determine disputes that may arise from such an election. The institution of an election tribunal has always helped to assuage anxieties and calm frayed nerves.
“It is in pursuance of the powers conferred on me by virtue of the Electoral Law that I, after due consultation with the Honourable Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Kwara State, made and signed an Instrument dated 2nd September 2024, constituting two panels of the Local Government Election Tribunal for Kwara State,” the CJ said.
While congratulating the members of the panels, the CJ stated that both the Honourable Grand Kadi and he were satisfied that the officers of the judiciary selected to serve on the tribunal are officers of proven integrity and competence. “I am therefore confident that they will discharge their onerous responsibility without fear or favour, affection, or ill will.
“Election petitions are by their nature peculiar from the point of view of public policy. It is therefore important that election cases should be dealt with speedily.
“I wish therefore to enjoin all members of the Bar appearing before the Tribunal to make excellence their watchword. They should not forget that they are fellow ministers in the Temple of Justice with the Chairman and members of the tribunal. It is my hope that every counsel appearing before the Tribunal will behave in the best tradition of our great and noble profession,” the CJ added.
Responding on behalf of the tribunal, Chief Magistrate Jibril Bio Salihu assured that the panels would do everything possible to ensure that the image of the judiciary is not tarnished.
Salihu, who said that the tribunal is aware of the enormous nature of the job, promised not to abuse the confidence reposed in them.
