The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia Friday, dismissed petitions by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressive Congress (APC) and affirmed the victory of Governor Alex Otti at the March 18 governorship election in Abia state.
This was even as the APC rejected the judgement as miscarriage of justice, stating “This verdict handed down by the three-man panel is the mother of miscarriage of Justice. It is unacceptable and we reject it.”
The tribunal had dismissed PDP’s petition against Otti and the Labour Party (LP) stating that the petitioners, PDP and others “failed in their three grounds and their petitions dismissed for lack of merit.”
The Tribunal presided over by Hon. Justice H. T. D Gwadah similarly, dismissed Ikechi Emenike’s two ground petition as lacking in merit.
Speaking after, the counsel to Hich Chief Ikechi Emenike, Fabian Okonkwo said, “We are grateful to the tribunal for giving us the opportunity, we are going to the Apex Court.”
The LP party chairman, C. K. Igara said, “I didn’t expect anything less as this is the first time Abians voted overwhelmingly for the LP”, as the House of Representative member for Isialangwa North and South, Ginger Onwusibe noted, “The judiciary, in all ramifications, looked at the issue”, and delivered a judgement that is worth it.
According to the counsel to Otti and former Attorney General of the state, Chief Umeh Kalu, “The judgement is a re-affirmation of what Abians did.”
However in a statement issued by the Chairman, APC in Abia, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu said, “We condemn unequivocally the judgement of the tribunal. Consequently, we have mandated our legal team to appeal the judgement of the tribunal.
“With this judgement today, it is obvious that justice was strangulated; more so, and very worrisome is that the court may no longer be the hope of the common man if justice continues to be debased.
“As a party, we approached the tribunal with fundamental issues that questions on Non-compliance and qualifications. We provided substantial evidence and facts in support of our petitions but was surprised and shocked that the tribunal closed its eyes against all the evidences before it and averted justice.
“Abia is aware that extraneous forces were at play during the proceedings. There was a high ranking individual whose inappropriate presence during one of the proceedings was viewed with suspicion.
“It was part of the machinations to intimidate, coax and arm-twist the judges in order to pervert justice and deliver judgement in favour of a particular client, irrespective of abundant evidence before the tribunal.
“This undoubtedly, may have fueled the audacity and open display of provocative arrogance by Labour Party led Abia State government, which had predicted the possible outcome of the judgement and switched into an excitement and celebration mood, a week before verdict.
“Regrettably, the Abia Election Petition Tribunal could not brush-off or borrow courage to defeat intimidation in order to deliver justice as exemplified recently, by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
“We therefore, call on our teaming supporters, members of our party and good people of Abia to remain calm, keep faith in the judiciary and be of good courage as all hope is not lost.
“We will not be deterred by this temporary setback. We are confident that in the end, justice and rule of law will prevail, having the knowledge that though the wheels of justice turn slowly, it grinds exceedingly fine.”
. TheWitness
