PDP, ACN Members Fight At Tribunal

Fighting broke out, Monday at the Tafawa Belewa Square,
Lagos State, venue of the election petition tribunal when supporters of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) clashed
following the inability of the tribunal to read its judgment on the Oke-Odo
Local Council Development Area chairmanship tussle.

The reading of the judgment which had been postponed twice
by the tribunal infuriated supporters of the petitioner who suspected an external
influence in the postponement. PDP supporters accused ACN leaders of delaying
the reading of the judgment because of the fear of losing, adding that they
suspected an unseen hand trying to influence the outcome of the judgment.

ACN supporters, on the other hand, accused the PDP
chieftains in the local government of harassing tribunal members to hastily
deliver judgment in a matter requiring thorough examination.

Because of the large crowd of supporters who besieged the
court to hear the judgment, many of them were not allowed into the court
premises, only their leaders were allowed in.

The Tide gathered that the chairman of the tribunal, Justice
F. A. Owobiyi (rtd) who fixed judgment for the day was being expected by the
parties but after being told of the tension on ground, refused to come out.

The registrar, it was learnt, called the counsels to the
parties aside and told them that the chairman was indisposed and would not come
to court. He subsequently adjourned till Thursday, 22 November, 2012.

At about 11.25 a.m. when the announcement was made that the
judgment had been postponed, hell was let loose by the supporters. They accused
each other of being behind the decision to arrest the judgment.

The rowdy situation was later brought under control by the
security agents attached to the court.

The PDP candidate, Otunba Busari Ayinde had asked the
tribunal to declare him the winner of the election instead of Dr. Augustine
Arogundade of the ACN that was declared winner by the Lagos State Independent
Electoral Commission (LASIEC).