Ekiti PDP denies disrupting tribunal proceedings, attacking judge

The Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has denied knowledge of any attack on the State High Court, Ado-Ekiti which allegedly led to the beaten up of a judge, Justice John Adeyeye, by some thugs.

Mr. Adeyeye was on Thursday allegedly beaten up by the thugs, believed to be loyalists of the governor-elect of the state, Ayo Fayose.

The action of the thugs who were with Mr. Fayose had created pandemonium thereby aborting the sitting of the Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which is deciding the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress against the PDP, as the court workers scampered for safety.

The governor-elect was also alleged to have shouted down at Mr. Adeyeye thereby triggering the attacked on the judge.

However, the state chairman of the PDP, Makanjuola Ogundipe, told PREMIUM TIMES that contrary to the claim that Mr. Adeyeye was attacked, the proceedings of the tribunal were “peaceful and well-organised today.”

He said, “I’m the PDP chairman (and) I’m in my office. If the Chief Judge is unable to organise the court and maintain peace, that is his problem.”

Asked who could have been responsible for the attack in the court premises, Mr. Ogundipe said, “We don’t have any thugs in PDP. Did you see PDP membership card on them? Did you see PDP written on their faces?

“I wouldn’t know who are those disrupting the court. I’m not aware of any confusion in court. I attended the tribunal sitting and it was peaceful. I left at the appropriate time. I’m not aware of any confusion or attack. I have not been briefed.”

Suspected thugs had similarly attack the trial judge, litigants and judicial workers, on Monday.
Mr. Fayose, a member of the PDP, defeated the state governor, Kayode Fayemi of the APC, in the June 21 governorship election.