By Ola Ajayi

Ibadan — The retirement of the Chairman, Oyo State governorship election petition, Justice F. C Obieze yesterday stalled proceedings on the petition filed by a former governor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja against the incumbent governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

Ladoja, had gone to the tribunal asking it to declare illegal the election of Governor Ajimobi, alleging that it was fraught with massive irregularities which ran contrary to the Electoral Act 2010.

The judge was said to have attained the retirement age of 65. All litigants were in court 21, Oyo State High Court, Iyaganku, Ibadan expecting the pre-hearing to commence as agreed in the last sitting only to be informed by one of the two remaining panel members, Justice Muhammadu Karaye that the chairman of the tribunal had retired.

He said there was absolutely nothing the panel could do without the chairman, adding that the tribunal rule allows for two members of the panel; chairman and any other member of the panel to sit.