Tribunal grants Ekere liberty to amend petition

The Akwa Ibom state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Uyo has admitted the prayers of the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, Obong Nsima Ekere to alter his petition.

Ekere is challenging INEC’s declaration of Udom Emmanuel’s victory in the March 9 governorship election.

In a resumed hearing Thursday, two motions applied by the petitioner, earlier adjourned for hearing were today, granted after heated arguments from both sides.

The tribunal agreed with all the submissions of the petitioners, granting leave to amend their additional witnesses statements on oath and list of witnesses and to insert omitted pages. 

The tribunal chairman, Justice A. M. Yakubu, noted that “it is an acceptable principle of Law that reliance on technicality is ancient. Errors are bound to be made by parties from time to time.”

After break, the tribunal later admitted the certified true copies of INEC documents for Abak LGA tendered by the petitioner’s counsel, J. S. Okutepa (SAN) as exhibit.

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