The three-man panel of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, has commended lawyers from both sides(PDP/APGA) for their cooperation in the ongoing hearing of the election petition matters.
The chairman of the tribunal, Justice A.L Ogumoye spoke during the court sitting in a suit filed by Dr. Alex Otti, challenging the declaration of the incumbent and Peoples Democratic Party gubernatorial flagbearer in the last 2019 general elections, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as winner of the March 9 election.
Otti was the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA) in the last 2019 general elections in Abia.
The APGA chieftain is asking the court to nullify results of the fifteen local government areas out of the seventeen local government areas of Abia State, alleging that excessive rigging characterized the governorship poll held in the state March 9, 2019.
He also asked the tribunal to order for a rerun in the fifteen LGA, purportedly and fraudulently won by the ruling PDP in Abia State.
But continuing with his remarks, Justice Ogumoye restated the panel’s position to ensure that through the cooperation of counsels, the case would be disposed of quickly.
Recall that Abia Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had adjourned to reconvene on 29th August for adoption of final written addresses by the petitioner(Otti) and Respondent, incumbent Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
DAILY POST reports that the Respondents were given 10 days to prepare their address, while the petitioners were given 7 days to respond.
Each of the parties was also given 3 days to respond on Point of Law.
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