Date: 2019-04-04

The Chairman of Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ilorin, Justice Bassey Effiong has granted permission to serve Kwara Governor-elect, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by way of substitution service.

Effiong granted the permission on Thursday at the hearing of a petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate, Razak Atunwa against Abdulrazaq and INEC over the qualification of the governor-elect.

Journalist report that when the matter was mentioned, both Abdulrazaq and his lawyer were not in court.

Atunwa's counsel, Abdulazeez Ibrahim told the Tribunal that he was unable to serve the respondents with copies of the petition and asked the permission of the Tribunal for substituted service.

Justice Effiong, therefore, ordered that the first and second respondents should be served by way of substitution of service.

"A copy of the service letter should be posted at the entrance of the tribunal, another copy should be posted at the gate of the premises of the first and second respondents," he ordered.

The tribunal chairman adjourned the case until April 22, for a report of service.

Speaking to newsmen after the sitting, Ibrahim said that the petition was challenging the gubernatorial election held on March 9.

"We are challenging the qualification of the Governor-elect and some other issues," he said. (NAN)