Abia governorship election tribunal grants leave to inspect polls documents

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.