Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Political stakeholders in Abia North, have tasked the National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal to fair and upright in its judgment of the pending petitions arising from the February 25 senatorial contest in the district.
Spokesman of the stakeholders, Dr Isaac Nkole, who addressed newsmen Monday in Umuahia, said that “Abia North is now looking up to the judiciary for justice.”
Dr Nkole who expressed disappointment over the massive disenfranchisement of voters in the district during the poll, urged the tribunal to prove that “judiciary remains the last hope of the people.”
According to him, the people of Abia North have closely monitored proceedings at the tribunal, hence they expect nothing short of justice.
He tasked members of the tribunal to look at the merits of the matter and give verdict without fear or favour.
“We want to make it known that Abia North is closely watching the happenings at the tribunal, and is desirous of justice and sound judgment devoid of any form of doubt, suspicion or compromise.
“Abia North has implicit confidence in the judiciary as the last hope of common man. We strongly believe that the judiciary can rescue the drowning democracy in Nigeria.
“We, therefore, appeal to the tribunal members to remain upright and refuse to be compromised for any reason. They should strive to write their names in gold by helping to restore the fast-eroding public confidence in the Nigerian judiciary.
“We will not hesitate to expose anyone discovered to be engaging in any shady deal capable of obstructing justice. Abia North is not for sale, therefore, anyone contemplating to buy or sell should keep off.”
Ikengaonline had reported that Senator Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; and Chief Nnamdi Iro Orji of the Labour Party, have respectively approached the tribunal to challenge the declaration of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the winner of the contest.
The duo had argued that election did not hold in over 120 polling units mainly in Ohafia and Arochukwu Local Government Areas, and that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had during a press conference on Sunday, February 26, admitted that election would be rescheduled in the affected areas.
The Petitioners expressed shock that while voters in the affected polling units, mostly their strongholds, were getting ready for the re-scheduled election, INEC, “hastily, and in clear violation of the Electoral Act,” declared Kalu winner of the contest.
They argued that the total number of registered voters in the affected polling units was far above the margin of win between Kalu and the first and second runner-ups.
Meanwhile, the Justice Samson Paul-Gang-led three- man panel, has reserved judgment in both petitions after all parties had adopted their final written addresses.
