The head of Senator Godswill Akpabio’s legal team, Mr Adekunle Oyesanya, has said the APC candidate for Akwa Ibom North-west senatorial district in the February 23 National Assembly election has a good case.
Speaking at the end of the sitting Tuesday, Mr Oyesanya said his client had a good case having won the senatorial election, adding that they were confident that justice would be served at the tribunal.
Senator Akpabio, who currently represents Akwa Ibom North-west (Ikot Ekpene) senatorial district, is challenging the outcome of the February 23, 2019 National Assembly elections which the INEC had announced Dr Christopher Ekpenyong of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner.
However, Akpabio has challenged the victory of Ekpenyong, as well as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), INEC, returning officer and resident electoral officer, Mr Mike Igini, as respondents.
Representing, Senator Akpabio, were Mr Sunday Ameh, SAN, and Mr Adekunle Oyesanya, SAN while Mr Kanu Agabi, SAN, Mr Solomon Umoh, SAN for the PDP and Engr Chris Ekpenyong and Ms Oluwaseun Oluseyi represented INEC.
Legal fireworks ensued during the pre-hearing of two applications earlier filed by Mr Agabi, SAN, and adopted by counsels to other respondents.
Ekpeyong’s counsel had filed two applications which sought the dismissal of Akpabio’s petition and set aside the order granted him order to inspect election materials in INEC custody, Agabi also prayed the tribunal to set aside the petition on grounds of lack of jurisdiction.
Counsel to the PDP, Solomon Umoh, SAN prayed the tribunal to “set aside the petitioner’s request for forensic analysis of election materials” as well as “dismiss all reliefs granted to the petitioner” because the inspection process of the election materials has been prejudiced” and that the “only grounds of obtaining an order must be by motion on notice”, which, according to him, the respondents failed to file.
Umoh also prayed the tribunal to award a cost of N500,000 against the petitioner, but was unanimously overruled by the three-member panel.
Responding to Umoh, counsel to the petitioner, Mr Ameh slammed the respondent applicants’ claim that the inspection process of the election materials has been prejudiced.
While noting that the respondents’ “objections are bereft of merit”, Ameh prayed the tribunal to grant an order of stay execution to enable his team study all the respondents’ applications.
Chairman of the tribunal Hon Justice W O Akanbi urged counsels to all parties and their supporters to fully cooperate with the tribunal in order to ensure that justice is expeditiously served.
Chief Kanu Agabi, who spoke for all the counsels at the tribunal, thanked the judges and pledged the cooperation of the Bar with the panel all through the duration of the tribunal.
Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Akanbi adjourned the hearing and reserved ruling on the prayers of respective parties for a yet to be announced date.
