Tribunal Adjourns Ekiti Guber Case Over Lawyer's Assault

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Ado-Ekiti has postponed further hearings on the petition contesting the results of the 2026 governorship election. This decision follows a request from the petitioners for the relocation of the proceedings due to an alleged assault on their counsel, Ebenezer Akinbuli, representing the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The tribunal, chaired by Justice Idris Kutigi, has set the next hearing for September 23, 2026, pending a decision from the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, regarding the proposed transfer to a safer venue. Adetunji Osho, SAN, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor Biodun Oyebanji, stated that Akinbuli had previously appeared in court but later cited the assault as a reason for his inability to present witnesses.

Osho noted that the respondents were surprised by the adjournment request, given that Akinbuli and his witnesses were seen at the tribunal the previous day.