Due to the ongoing two-day warning strike ordered by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Abeokuta, Ogun State, was unable to meet on Wednesday.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Ganiyu Dada had filed a petition, EPT/OG/SEN/2023, against Senator Olamilekan Adeola, who represents Ogun West, and the tribunal had set September 6 for the delivery of judgement.
However, the decision was put on hold when court staff locked the gate to the Magistrates court, where the tribunal was held.
In accordance with the NLC warning strike, leaders of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) secured the gate.
JUSUN’s State Chairman, Olanrewaju Ajiboye, said that court employees sealed the gate in accordance with the national organization’s order regarding the two-day warning strike.
The judges are unable to sit because we have locked the court’s gate in accordance with the national body’s mandate even though the tribunal is scheduled to meet today. This is the reason the tribunal is unable to meet today, he said.
When it was brought up that the electoral tribunal’s proceedings had a deadline, Ajiboye responded, “We can’t throw the gate open and enable the tribunal to convene; that will suggest we deliberately destroyed the workers’ effort.
Although this is our own location and we have the authority to close it at any time, the tribunal has the right to meet anyplace.
The warning strike, which started on Tuesday and is scheduled to expire at the end of business today, is a show of support for those who have been adversely affected by the reduction of fuel subsidies.
Since then, some workers in Ogun State have complied with it.
