A’Ibom tribunal dismisses Action Alliance’s governorship petition

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting successful Uyo connected Friday struck retired the petition filed by Mr Jeremiah Akpan, the governorship campaigner of Action Alliance (AA) successful the predetermination held connected March 18 successful Akwa Ibom.

Justice Buetnaan Mandy, who work the unanimous judgement of the tribunal connected behalf of 2 others, dismissed the petition connected grounds of incompetence arsenic it was not successful compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.

Akpan, the petitioner, had approached the tribunal due to the fact that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refused to upload his sanction connected its authoritative website arsenic a campaigner for the election.

Counsel to INEC, Dr Ethelbert Ezeh, applauded the judgement of the tribunal, saying, “Exclusion arsenic it stands present is nary longer 1 of the grounds for predetermination petition successful Nigeria by the proviso of the Electoral Act 2022.”

Counsel to the petitioner, Nkereuwem Akpan, connected the different hand, said: “We volition survey the judgement and counsel our client. We are not satisfied with the judgement and volition entreaty the judgement successful the Court of Appeal.”

The petitioner expressed disappointment, saying: “We came to the tribunal due to the fact that we judge successful our judiciary process and our democracy, but justness has not been done today. We person a Court Order from an Appeal Court, mandating INEC to upload my name, and INEC refused. By that singular enactment of misleading the radical connected predetermination day, I came present truthful that the tribunal would decide, and I americium not satisfied with the judgement, though I respect their views. I volition beryllium heading to Appeal Court.”

A’Ibom tribunal dismisses Action Alliance’s governorship petition