Expdonaloaded News; Rivers: Tribunal adjusts schedule to meet 180 days deadline

With less than 46 days of the 180 days allocated to the election petition tribunals by the Electoral Act, to conclude their assignments, the Rivers State governorship tribunal yesterday, modified its schedule to enable it round up its sitting within the stipulated statutory timeframe.
Accordingly, the All Progressives Congress [APC] and its candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, who brought the petition against governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP], are now left with two days to conclude their case, instead of the initial four days.
Similarly, the tribunal has reduced the respondent’s days from 10 days to six days, to enable the tribunal give judgment within the 180 days time frame.
Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Suleiman Ambrosa, announced the modification yesterday, observing that if the adjustment was not made, the tribunal would be left with just one day to write its judgment, without parties having time to make their final address.
His words: “We have 46 days left from today, but with the deduction of Sallah holiday and other work- free days, it will leave the tribunal with 36 days and just one day to write our judgment; without parties having time to address the tribunal, if we go by the earlier schedule. The petitioners’ days are now reduced from 14 to 10, while the respondents each, from 10 to six days. This is to enable time for the tribunal to give judgment.”