Paragraph 23
Postponement of hearing(1) The Tribunal or Court may, by order made on the application of a party to the election petition or at the instance of the Tribunal or Court, postpone the beginning of the hearing to such day as the Tribunal or Court may consider appropriate having regard at all times to the need for speedy conclusion of the hearing of the election petition.
(2) A copy of the order shall be sent by the Secretary by registered post or messenger to the electoral officer or the Resident Electoral Commissioner or the Commission who shall publish the order in the manner provided in paragraph 20 for publishing the notice of hearing, but failure on the part of the electoral officer or Resident Electoral Commissioner or the Commission to publish the copy of the order of postponement shall not affect the proceedings in any manner whatsoever.
(3) The Secretary shall post or cause to be posted on the tribunal notice board a copy of the order.
(4) Where the Tribunal or Court gives an order of postponement at its own instance a copy of the order shall be sent by the Secretary by registered post or messenger to the address for service given by the petitioner and to the address for service, if any, given by the respondents or any of them.
(5) The provisions of paragraph 21 shall apply to an order or a notice of postponement as they do to the notice of hearing.
This paragraph allows an Election Tribunal or Court to postpone the beginning of a hearing either on its own instance or at the instance of the parties via an order, while considering the need for speedy conclusion. Such order for postponement however must be published and communicated to parties involved.
