Journalists covering the proceedings at the Ogun State Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, have been asked to leave the court room as they are no longer needed.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that there was mild drama on Wednesday at the Tribunal, following a shouting match that erupted between journalists and lawyers over seating space.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that trouble started when some lawyers asked the journalists who were already seated on the bench reserved for pressmen by the court to vacate the seat for them.
The lawyers claimed that the bench was an extension of the bar.
PLATFORM TIMES observed that the court is where the case between the People’s Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress over the March 18,2023 governorship election taking place.
The court was overcrowded with supporters of both the PDP and the APC in their large numbers.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that there is a directive of the Tribunal that only 20 members of each political party should be allowed into the court.
Disguising as a mediator, the secretary of the Tribunal, Raymonda Ezenta angrily asked journalists to vacate the seat reserved for them, declaring that the court does not need their services.
Ezenta who screamed on top of her voice, shouted at journalists asking them to leave.
She said “Journalists are not needed at this Tribunal. We don’t need you here. Please stand up. My lords are waiting. Stand up.”
Dropping the names of the judges into the matter, the secretary, while engaging in a confrontation with the journalists said the Tribunal judges have refused to leave their chambers for the day’s proceedings because the journalists are yet to vacate the seat.
Ezenta also invited the police to walk the journalists out.
As the police officers were trying to mediate, Ezenta returned saying, “It is past 9, my lords just asked now if you guys are still here, police please do your job.”
A similar scenario had played out on Monday and had Ezenta told journalists that she would get a bench for them to seat after a set of journalists had an argument with some politicians over a bench.
Since the beginning of the Tribunal, members of PDP and APC supporters have continued to claim ownership of benches in court, which they, on most cases, reserve for their coming members.
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