Barely five weeks ahead of Local Government Elections in Delta State, the State Chief Judge, Honourable Justice Marshal Umukoro has constituted the Local Government Elections to hear and determine petitions arising from the elections across the three senatorial districts.
The Chief Judge constituted the Tribunals in pursuant to Sections 129 and 130(3) of the Delta State Independent Elections Commission Law 2017.
Section 129 provides: ” There shall be established in the State at least 6 (six) and at most 9 (nine) Election Petition Tribunals to be set up by the Chief Judge of the State, not later than 14 ( fourteen) days before the date of Local Government Elections known as Local Government Tribunals…”
A statement from the office of the Chief Judge states that in Delta Central Panel 1 Callistus Moeteke, Esq. (Chief Magistrate Special Grade) shall sit as chairman while B. E. Isetin, Esq. and A. T. Aniko, Esq. would serve as members.
Delta Central Panel 2 has V. H. Okonta, Esg. (Chief Magistrate Special Grade ) as chairman, while Mrs. Faith O. Kalu (Chief Magistrate Grade 11) and Augustine Ezeagwu, Esq. are members.
The statement further disclosed that Ena A. Odjugo, Esq. (Chief Magistrate Special Grade) will sit as Chairman at Delta North Panel 1even as Mrs.Linda Ivie Enaowho-Umukoro (Chief Magistrate Grade 11) and P. Mekako, Esq. were constituted as members.
The Local Government Elections scheduled to hold on the 6th of March, 2021 as announced by the Delta State Independent Elections Commission has Mrs M. Oghenetega Omonemu (Chief Magistrate Special Grade) to determine and hear petitions arising from the elections as Chairman at the Delta North Panel 2. Shedrack Obonodo, Esq. (Chief Magistrate Grade 11) and Jonathan Ekperusi, Esq. were constituted as members.
In Delta South Panel 1 Mrs. Geraldine Uche Ofulue (Chief Magistrate Special Grade) shall sit as Chairman, while J. E. Jewo, Esq. and Emmanuel Uti, Esq are members of the Tribunal.
While in Delta South Panel 2, the Tribunal chairman is Mrs. Gloria Ogho Etanabene (Chief Magistrate Special Grade), Emmanuel Chindu Osuma (Senior Magistrate Gd 11) and E. S. Ayo-Okhiria, Esq. are to serve as members.
The statement added that chairmen and members of the Tribunals shall be sworn in/inaugurated on Wednesday the 17th day of February, 2021 at noon at High Court of Justice No.1, Asaba.
