TheBayelsa Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, has struck-out ninepetitions and dismissed five out of the twenty-eight filed. The tribunalrelocated to Abuja on April 30. Althoughno reason was given for the relocation, sources said the decision might not beunconnected with the security challenges in the state. TheSecretary of the tribunal, Dah Akawu, said that the nine petitions, includingtwo for the Senate and three for the State House of Assembly were dismissed forfailure of the petitioners to file pre-trial processes within the sevenstipulated days. He added that only 14 petitions were still pending before thetribunal. Thesuit was dismissed because the petitioners filed their pre-trial applicationout of time. It was reported that there are two panels sitting in the electionpetition matters. PanelOne has Justice Kenneth Wosu as chairman and Justices Haruna Offo and HabibuMukailu as members. Justice Lambert Azuama, sits as chairman for Panel Two,while Justices Ruqayat Ayoola and Linda Yaroson are members.