The stage is getting set for aggrieved contestants in the November 2, 2024, Abia State Local Government Election to seek redress and justice in court. In this regard, the state Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Lilian Abai has inaugurated the Local Government Election Petition Tribunal. She charged the Tribunal, headed by His Worship, Uguru Eme Uguru, a Magistrate, to dispassionately discharge its assignment with dedication and integrity.
The Tribunal has consequently opened a Registry at the State High Court headquarters at Umuahia, the state capital for petitioners to file their petitions therein.
Two political parties, the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Young Progressives Party (YPP) were declared winners of the Chairmanship positions in 15 and two LGAs respectively. The state has 17 LGAs.
An unsuccessful chairmanship contestant for Isuikwuato LGA on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Emenike Emerson Azubuike, a lawyer, has already faulted the state Independent Electoral Commission headed by Prof George Chima for not availing him of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of his election result scores.
He told journalists that despite formally filing a request application for the CTC on November 2nd and 3rd, and following them up with physical visits, the Commission did not make his results available to him.
Azubuike described the Commission’s refusal as a deliberate posture aimed at frustrating his move to seek legal redress at the Tribunal. Also, the Coalition of 35 Civil Society Organisations in the state has declared its intention to seek legal redress.
While briefing journalists in Umuahia, the Leader of the Coalition, Mr Simon Diogu asserted that the conduct of the Council election did not comply with the stipulated rules and guidelines in line with democratic principles and global best practices. He said: “We have enough video evidence(s) to substantiate our claims that there was no election in the entire LGAs.”