| From nigeriafirst.org
Justice Jean Omokri, Chairman of the Tribunal in Abia State, urged its members to conduct themselves professionally in order to ensure the success of the Tribunal. He gave the advice during the inaugural sitting of the Tribunal, pointing out that the judiciary has a key role to play in restoring the image of the country both locally and abroad. Omokri also appealed for the cooperation of all those who are either filing complaints or responding to charges. Although the tribunal is yet to commence sitting in Anambra State, about 11 petitions, 10 from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one from the All Nigeria Peoples Party, (ANPP) have so far been received. The 10 PDP petitioners are challenging the invalidation, by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Hassan Suleiman, of the initial results that were announced. The petitioners claim that his announcement was in violation of the Electoral Act as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC's) guidelines. In Ebonyi State, the PDP has challenged the results of the House of Representatives election for Ezza-South/Ikwo Federal constituency, in which the ANPP candidate was declared winner. In response, the ANPP has accused the PDP of being unreasonable, and maintains that its candidate polled 58,931 votes to defeat his PDP opponent who scored 36,939 votes. In Gombe State, the Tribunal has ordered the counsel to Governor Abubakar Hashidu to notify INEC and its Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State about their application. Meanwhile, in Kaduna State the Tribunal had adjourned its first two cases, which resumed on 14 and 15 May. The adjournment was sequel to an application by the counsel to Isaiah Ballat, Senator-elect in the dispute, who stated that his client was not properly served with the petition. In Rivers State, the ANPP Gubernatorial candidate, Sergeant Awuse and his House of Representatives counterpart, Pat Ajudua, have filed separate motions at the Election Tribunal sitting in Port Harcourt, asking that they be allowed access to poling documents. The Election Tribunal sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, has received six petitions. Two are from Governorship candidates; one is from a Senatorial candidate while the other three are from House of Representatives candidates. The Kebbi State Tribunal, which will commence sitting next week, has also received six petitions from PDP candidates against their ANPP opponents, challenging the credibility of their election into the National Assembly. Related stories Election Tribunals begin hearings Election Petition Tribunals © Copyright 2006 nigeriafirst.org |
