Supporters of the All Progressives Congress
governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom, Umana Umana, in the Federal Capital
Territory, Lagos and Uyo were thrown into wild jubilations on Wednesday,
October 22, following the ruling of governorship election tribunal.
Governor Emmanuel Udom
The Justice Sadiq Umar led tribunal had ordered for
re-run election in 18 out of the 31 local government areas of in the state.
Umana had challenged the election that brought Governr
Udom Emmanuel into power. INEC had ordered for re-run election in these local
government areas of Nsit Ibom, Nsit Ubium, Ibiono, Uyo, Etinan, Udung Uko, Oruk
Anam, Etim Ekpo, Onna, Uruan, Ikono, Ini, Ibesikpo, Nsit Atai, Eket, Ibeno,
Ikot Abasi.
During the hearing of the case, the respondents had
asked the tribunal to dismiss the petition of Umana stating that all petition
witness statements on oath were invalid excerpt of the 1st petitioner,
This Day reports.
The Peoples Democratic Party and his candidate in the
election, Governor Emamenuel, had prayed the tribunal to dismiss the petition
because a condition precedence prior to the filing of the petition was not met
in that the petitioners witness statement were not deposed before a competent
authority and that the witness statement were not in consonance with the oath
Act which vitiated the petition.
The tribunal ruled that the tribunal Secretary is by
law conferred with judicial authority to so act. The motion was therefore
dismissed.
The tribunal held that 1st and 2nd respondent
cannot complain or fault the pre hearing session since it took part in it as
the petitioners requested via a letter to the tribunal Secretary for the
issuance of Form TF007, which the law allows to be done via a letter or an ex
parte motion which are purely administrative.
The court also ruled that the Umana was validly
nominated in line with Section 81 of the Electoral Act thus validating his
candidate for April 11, 2015 election and dismissed the motion.
Ruling the controversy surrounding the non-resignation
of Engr. Ben Ukpong, Umana’s running mate, 30 days prior to the election as
required by the law and his alleged continued receipt of salary and emoluments
after his purported resignation, the tribunal held that the resignation dated
December 2, 2014 by the APC running mate to the Federal Capital Development
Authority (FCDA) and an official confirmation of his letter of resignation by
the FCDA also dated December 2, 2014 as well as evidence of payment of one
month salary in lieu to FCDA proved that Mr. Umana’s running mate did retire
more than three months to the election and therefore dismissed the motion for
lack of merit.
Reacting to the tribunal ruling,
Umana said he thanked God for the victory.
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Source:
Naij.com
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