THE Three-member Abia State Governorship Election Petitions
Tribunal at its inaugural session urged petitioners, respondents,
reporters and members of the public to give the Tribunal the cooperation
that would enable it deliver justice as intended by the law
Speaking at the opening session at the Umuahia High Court,
the tribunal Chairman, Mr. Justice Usman Bwala, urged lawyers appearing
before it to avoid frivolities that could delay hearing of the
petitions.
He also stressed the need for the petitions filed before it
to be dispensed with within the 180 days timeline, beginning from the
date the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the
results. Ufomba added that the tribunal would do everything in its
powers to reduce tension.
Other members of the tribunal are Justices Ekeret Abieyie
and Olusegan Ogunyemi. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)
governorship candidate, Mr. Alex Otti, factional APGA candidate, Mr.
Reagan Ufomba, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mr.
Anyim Nyerere, all filed petitions at the tribunal.
Otti and Nyerere, in their petitions, challenged the
declaration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate
in the election, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, as winner of the election.
Ufomba ‘s petition asked the tribunal to award him the
benefits that would accrue to Otti if the tribunal verdict declares APGA
the winner of the state gubernatorial poll.
Ufomba had told reporters that he was asking for that based
on his pending suit at the High Court challenging the candidacy of Otti
as the APGA candidate, asserting that he was the authentic APGA
candidate, even though INEC recognised Otti as candidate.
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