There was palpable tension in Umuahia, the Abia
State capital, on Monday as the Governorship
Election Petition tribunal began hearing on the
petition by the governorship candidate of the All
Progressives Grand Alliance, Dr. Alex Otti, against the
election of Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples
Democratic Party.

Security operatives had hectic time trying to restrain
both PDP and APGA supporters from surging into the
premises of the Umuahia High Court, venue of the
tribunal sitting.

Supporters of both parties from across the state had
thronged out in their numbers in solidarity for their
candidates but were denied access to the court
premises by stern-looking police personnel who also
blocked all roads leading to the venue.

Traffic through the ever busy IkotEkpene-Umuahia
federal highway was diverted as part of security
measures, while those who were allowed entry into
the court premises were subjected to thorough
screening.

Over 100 lawyers were in attendance as the court hall
was filled to the brim, a situation that made many
journalists who came to cover the proceeding to stay
outside or peep through the window.

Supporters of both parties were observed in their
groups drumming support for their various
candidates but security operatives never allowed
them to come close to the court premises.

There was, however, a mild drama when a helicopter
suspected to be air lifting currency for one of the
banks flew over the area and some APGA supporters
began to jubilate that their ‘man’ (Otti) had been
flown into the court premises.

The state government had, on Sunday, through radio
announcements, accused APGA supporters of plots
to invade the court premises with protesters to
create the false impression that the state was not
safe for the tribunal members.

Meanwhile, Otti, has accused the Independent
National Electoral Commission of frustrating his
efforts to inspect materials used during the poll as
ordered by the Governorship Election Petition
Tribunal.

Otti, through his lead Counsel, Chief Chris Uche, told
the tribunal that INEC was making it difficult for him
to have access to the materials.

According to him, INEC has continued to give excuses
each time his team of forensic experts came to the
commission’s headquarters for the inspection.

He further alleged that INEC had refused to make the
ballot papers used for the elections available at the
headquarters for inspection as ordered by the
tribunal.

However, INEC counsel, Chief Livy Uzoukwu, denied
the allegation, saying that the commission had made
available all the materials as contained in the
tribunal’s order for inspection.

He said the commission would direct its electoral
officers at the counsel headquarters to make the
materials, especially the ballot papers, available for
inspection.

Counsel for Otti had opposed the idea of inspecting
the materials at the counsel headquarters as argued
by INEC, contending that it would make the
inspection cumbersome.

He argued that INEC should assemble the materials
at its state headquarters where the tribunal had
ordered that the inspection should take place.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the tribunal, Hon. Justice
Usman Bwala, urged the parties to workout a means
to ensure the smooth inspection of the materials.

He also ordered that all the court processes should
be served to all the parties before the next adjourned
date of Friday, June 26.


Cc:lalasticlala

Source: http://www.punchng.com/news/tension-in-abia-as-gov-tribunal-begins-hearing/

.Okezie Ikpeazu and T.A orji will take Abia state to greater heights.

I wish the people of Abia State the leadership they wish Nigeria. PDP, carry go!! No Ikpeazu! No Abia!

See watin 1k dey do the guy above me

You bad

stigman:
See watin 1k dey do the guy above me

Otti should go sit down and learn the game of politics

missbehave247:
You bad

That man will win