Abia: Ikpeazu elected in free, fair, credible election- Witnesses

No fewer than 13 witnesses testifying for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate Okezie Ikpeazu have told the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, that the election that brought in Ikpeazu was free, fair, peaceful and complied with the electoral laws.


They witnesses, who stated this in their amended depositions, disagreed with the petitioners’ position over the means of voters’ accreditation during the election.
The petitioners, relying on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines, had stated in their deposition that the smart card reader was the only means of accreditation for the election.
But the witnesses contested that position stating instead that the Electoral Act, which was superior to the INEC guidelines, allowed for manual accreditation of voter, using voter register, in instances where the card reader failed.

Ikpeazu, who is the second respondent in the petition filed by Dr Alex Otti, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), challenging his (Ikpeazu) declaration as the winner of the March 9 poll, called among other witnesses Messrs Hagler Okorie, Lucky Akabuike and Emeka Stanley.

The 13 witnesses so far called gave evidence as local government collation agents for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in favour of Ikpeazu.

After a stormy session, the tribunal chairman, Justice Lekan Ogumoye, later adjourned the case for continuation of hearing yesterday.
Otti and APGA are seeking the cancellation of the poll’s result in 15 of the 17 local government areas of the state.
They alleged that the exercise was marred by massive irregularities. (NAN)

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