There was outrage yesterday by
supporters of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) and people of Akwa-
Ibom North-West following the National
and State Assembly Election Petition
tribunal ruling on the Akwa Ibom North-
West senatorial election.

The APC candidate, Inebehe Okori, had
approached the tribunal challenging
conduct of the April election and
declaration of former governor of the
state, Godswill Akpabio, as winner of the
poll.

The tribunal led by Justice Goddy
Anunihu, in its ruling said there was
nothing legally wrong with 205,519
accredited voters casting 444,505 votes
which were declared for former governor
Godswill Akpabio.

The three man panel comprising the
chairman, Justice Goddy Anunihu,
Justice A. O. Adebusoye and Justice A.
M. Lamido, who were billed to deliver the
judgement by 10am, did not arrive the
court till around 2.15 pm.

When the panel entered the courtroom at
about 2.18 pm and the case was called,
the tribunal insisted that though
Akpabio’s nomination form read Akwa
Ibom North-East instead of North West,
his nomination was in order.

It also said that the submission of the
tribunal that the Card Reader report
which proved that only 205,519 voters
were validly accredited was admitted in
error. He therefore ruled that all evidence
emanating from the document be
expunged.

The tribunal added that the mode of
sponsorship was not specified in the
Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution
and therefore Akpabio’s form reading
Akwa Ibom North-East is a clerical error
which amounts to a non issue.

Justice Aninuhu said there was nothing
wrong in INEC correcting the error done
by the PDP on the former governor’s
nomination form in so far as the PDP
nominated only three senatorial
candidates from the three senatorial
districts. He ruled that the oral evidence
and submission of the National Secretary
of the PDP who admitted that the Akwa
Ibom North East error on Akpabio’s form
was done by his office is enough grounds
to correct the documentary evidence
rendered by the tribunal and insisted that
so long as INEC published Akpabio’s
name 30 days to the polls alongside
other candidates names, there was
nothing wrong with the nomination.
Justice Aninuhu therefore struck out the
petition and awarded N30,000 cost to the
defendants.

Reacting to the judgement, the petitioner,
Chief Inibehe Okori, gave glory to God for
the successful commencement and
conclusion of the trial and assured his
constituents that the struggle continues.
He will appeal the judgement at the
Court of Appeal and will not rest until he
reclaims the mandate of the people of
Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District
at the Appeal Court. He assured his
people that “the corruption and impunity
which characterized the judgement will
be upturned by the Appeal Court.
Stakeholders from the area who spoke
on the matter condemned the ruling.
They lamented that evidence tendered in
court were enough to nullify the election.
They vowed to pursue the matter.

source: www.leadership.ng/news/467254/akwa-ibom-north-west-how-205519-voters-cast-444505-votes-for-akpabio

If he likes, let him go to moon and appeal as far am concerned. Akwa Ibom belong to PDP come rain come shine.

Tell Inibehe Okorie that there is no way he can get that thing he's looking for, in fact he's pursuing shadows trying to oust Sen. Akpabio from that seat. If he likes he appeal the case in the Hague or better still in the moon it'll still be a deadlock. PDP is AKS and AKS is PDP they're like Siameses twin.

Brytawon:
There was outrage yesterday by
supporters of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) and people of Akwa-
Ibom North-West following the National
and State Assembly Election Petition
tribunal ruling on the Akwa Ibom North-
West senatorial election.

The APC candidate, Inebehe Okori, had
approached the tribunal challenging
conduct of the April election and
declaration of former governor of the
state, Godswill Akpabio, as winner of the
poll.

The tribunal led by Justice Goddy
Anunihu, in its ruling said there was
nothing legally wrong with 205,519
accredited voters casting 444,505 votes
which were declared for former governor
Godswill Akpabio.

The three man panel comprising the
chairman, Justice Goddy Anunihu,
Justice A. O. Adebusoye and Justice A.
M. Lamido, who were billed to deliver the
judgement by 10am, did not arrive the
court till around 2.15 pm.

When the panel entered the courtroom at
about 2.18 pm and the case was called,
the tribunal insisted that though
Akpabio’s nomination form read Akwa
Ibom North-East instead of North West,
his nomination was in order.

It also said that the submission of the
tribunal that the Card Reader report
which proved that only 205,519 voters
were validly accredited was admitted in
error. He therefore ruled that all evidence
emanating from the document be
expunged.

The tribunal added that the mode of
sponsorship was not specified in the
Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution
and therefore Akpabio’s form reading
Akwa Ibom North-East is a clerical error
which amounts to a non issue.

Justice Aninuhu said there was nothing
wrong in INEC correcting the error done
by the PDP on the former governor’s
nomination form in so far as the PDP
nominated only three senatorial
candidates from the three senatorial
districts. He ruled that the oral evidence
and submission of the National Secretary
of the PDP who admitted that the Akwa
Ibom North East error on Akpabio’s form
was done by his office is enough grounds
to correct the documentary evidence
rendered by the tribunal and insisted that
so long as INEC published Akpabio’s
name 30 days to the polls alongside
other candidates names, there was
nothing wrong with the nomination.
Justice Aninuhu therefore struck out the
petition and awarded N30,000 cost to the
defendants.

Reacting to the judgement, the petitioner,
Chief Inibehe Okori, gave glory to God for
the successful commencement and
conclusion of the trial and assured his
constituents that the struggle continues.
He will appeal the judgement at the
Court of Appeal and will not rest until he
reclaims the mandate of the people of
Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District
at the Appeal Court. He assured his
people that “the corruption and impunity
which characterized the judgement will
be upturned by the Appeal Court.
Stakeholders from the area who spoke
on the matter condemned the ruling.
They lamented that evidence tendered in
court were enough to nullify the election.
They vowed to pursue the matter.

source: www.leadership.ng/news/467254/akwa-ibom-north-west-how-205519-voters-cast-444505-votes-for-akpabio