News report from The Punch indicates that the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Abiodun Adebara, on Thursday has inaugurated two election petition tribunals ahead of the September 21 local government election in Kwara State.

Each tribunal consists of a three-member panel, including a chairman and two members. The first panel is chaired by Chief Magistrate Jibril Salihu, with Muhammed Aluko and Adeniyi Moses as members. The second panel is chaired by Chief Magistrate Abubakar Ndakene, alongside Adebola Mercy and Abdulhamid Olatunji.

During the swearing-in ceremony held at the Conference Room of the Kwara State Judiciary, Justice Adebara urged the tribunal members to expedite the hearing of election cases and ensure timely justice.

The Chief Judge also said he was satisfied with the officers selected to serve on the tribunal, as they were men of proven integrity and competence.

“I am, therefore, confident that they will discharge their onerous responsibility without fear or favour, affection or ill will,” he said.

Justice Adebara, who said the non-inclusion of members of the Bar was not a slight, said that they would be accommodated in the future.

“I wish, therefore, to enjoin all members of the Bar appearing before the tribunal to make excellence their watchword.

“They should not forget that they are fellow ministers in the temple of justice with the chairman and members of the tribunal.

“I hope that every counsel appearing before the tribunal will behave in the best tradition of our great and noble profession,” he said.

The CJ also announced that an election registry had been established in the High Court complex.

Responding on behalf of the panels, Salihu expressed gratitude to the state judiciary, the CJ and the Grand Kadi for their selection and pledged that they would not disappoint.