Lanlehin asks tribunal to shut doors against INEC, REC

Accord party senatorial candidate in the March 28, 2015 polls, Olufemi Lanlehin has asked the National and State House of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Ibadan not to enter any appearance for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Rufus Akeju.

Lanlehin, who contested for Oyo South senatorial district, had dragged Senator Soji Akanbi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was declared winner of the election, before the Usman Tanko led tribunal. Joined in the suit are the electoral commission and Akeju.

At the proceedings yesterday, counsel to Lanlehin, Mr. Michael Lana objected to the appearance of INEC and the Resident Commissioner citing the ruling of the Court of Appeal delivered on August 7, this year.

The Appellate Court’s ruling set aside the ruling of the Justice Tanko Usman-led tribunal, delivered on June 23 on an application for extension of time filed on June 4 by INEC and Akeju.

The tribunal had granted the application. But Lanlehin, through his counsel, had challenged the competence of the application, saying INEC and Akeju filed their responses 44 days after they were served with the petition.