Ukobong Efiok
The Akwa Ibom State governorship election petition tribunal sitting
in Abuja is said to have recorded its most productive day today
since substantive hearing began in the case of Umana Okon
Umana/APC vs. Udom Emmanuel/PDP. The tribunal heard
testimonies from eight witnesses who all said without exception
that there were no valid elections in Akwa Ibom State on 11 April
2015.
For contrast, eight witnesses had testified in the first two days of
the substantive hearing of the election petition.
Witnesses who testified included those from Etim Ekpo, Ikot Abasi,
Eastern Obolo, Nsit Ubium, Ibiono Ibom and Nsit Ibom. Leading the
legal team for the petitioner was Mr. Solomon Umoh (SAN), who
was muscular and deeply knowledgeable in his protection of
witnesses against legal ambushes by the defence teams led by Mr
Paul Usoro (SAN) for the first respondent (Udom Emmanuel); Tayo
Oyetibo (SAN) for the second defendant (PDP) and Mr Wike for
third defendant (INEC).
The second highlight of the day was the order granted by the
tribunal on the application of the petitioner that he should be
allowed to continue with the forensic examination of ballot
materials for four days because INEC failed to show up for the
exercise for four days during the last Eid-del-Fitri holidays.
The request initially drew the ire of the legal teams for the
defendants who sought to block it but in the end all parties agreed
that the request was proper and should be allowed. The petitioner
was granted permission to continue with forensic examination of
the ballot materials from Thursday, July 23 to Monday, July 27.
Hearing on the governorship petition continues tomorrow in the
premises of the High Court of Abuja, Maitama District. —
