The Delta State National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal (Panel 3) has adjourned further pre-hearing in the suit filed by Chief Anthony Azuya of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) against the election of Hon Pat Adjudua of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), representing Oshimili North State Constituency in the State House of Assembly.

The tribunal chaired by Justice S M C Ururuka Onyesoh, during the pre-trial sitting, also reserved ruling on an application filed by the respondents asking the court to strike out some paragraphs in the reply of the petitioner to their response.

Moving the application, Counsel to Hon. Pat Adjudua, Chief Efe Akpofure (SAN), said it was brought in line with the Electoral Act and sought three prayers to strike areas that were not in tune with the law.

Responding, Counsel to the Petitioner, Mr. Chike Onyemenem (SAN), opposed the application, saying that the documents and materials mentioned in the paragraphs that the respondents are asking the court to strike out were pleaded in the petition.

Earlier, Counsel to respondents, Chief Akpofure had asked the tribunal to hear all preliminary applications before the substantive suit while Counsel to the Petitioner, Mr. Onyemenem, had argued that it is their submission that the tribunal hear all applications alongside the main suit in order to save time but noted that the court had powers to hear all applications first or hear them along with the petition.

The respondents also raised the issues of inspection of electoral materials which the court had granted.

Having listened to all the parties, Justice Ururuka Onyesoh, consequently adjourned the case to Wednesday, July 8, 2015 for continuation of pre-hearing.

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