The Akwa Ibom State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja has ordered a total Re-run election in eighteen(18) out of the 31 Local Governmnent Area’s in Akwa Ibom State.
The Tribunal which began its rulling with 5 pending motions,earlier ruled in favour of the petition Umana Okon Umana,maintaining that thugs loyal to the Akwa Ibom PDP took over the entire process in the April 11th Governorship Poll in the state.
After going through the petitioners submitions and the witness statement,the Tribunal ruled that the Petitioners Witness 49 who claimed to be a forensic expert later admitted that he was not an expert,thereby rendering null and void all the supposed evidences which he brought before the Panel.
On the claims by the Petitioner that INEC had directed that card readers be used during the APRIL 11th Governorship election accross the country,the Tribunal ruled that the letter written by INEC cannot supersede the provisions and the laid down rules in the electoral act,which actually permits for manual accreditation.
The Tribunal held that some other LGAs did not comply with the provisions of the law. It holds that 566,436 voters were disenfranchised as against….890,000 voters in favour of the 1st respondent in 18 LGAs.
The Tribunal was not specific to wether or not the sitting governor Mr.Udom Emmanuel should step down from office
