Palpable tension in Abia as gov tribunal begins hearing

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu

There was an obvious tension in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, on Monday as the Governorship Election Petition tribunal began hearing on the petition by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Dr. Alex Otti, against the election of Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Security operatives had hectic time trying to restrain both PDP and APGA supporters from surging into the premises of the Umuahia High Court, venue of the tribunal sitting.

Supporters of both parties from across the state had thronged out in their numbers in solidarity for their candidates but were denied access to the court premises by stern-looking police personnel who also blocked all roads leading to the venue.



Traffic through the ever busy  IkotEkpene-Umuahia federal highway was diverted as part of security measures, while those who were allowed entry into the court premises were subjected to thorough screening.

Over 100 lawyers were in attendance as the court hall was filled to the brim, a situation that made many journalists who came to cover the proceeding to stay outside or peep through the window.

Supporters of both parties were observed in their groups drumming support for their various candidates  but security operatives never allowed them to come close to the court premises.

There was, however,  a mild drama when a helicopter suspected to be air lifting currency for one of the banks flew over the area and some APGA supporters began to jubilate  that their ‘man’ (Otti) had been flown into the court premises.

The state government had, on Sunday, through radio announcements, accused APGA supporters of plots to invade the court premises with protesters  to create the false impression that the state was not safe for the tribunal members.

Meanwhile, Otti, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of frustrating his efforts to inspect materials used during the poll as ordered by the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

Otti, through his lead Counsel, Chief Chris Uche,  told the tribunal  that INEC was making it difficult for him to have access to the materials.

According to him, INEC has continued to give excuses each time his team of forensic experts came to the commission’s headquarters for the inspection.

He further alleged that INEC had refused to make the ballot papers used for the elections available at the headquarters for inspection as ordered by the tribunal.

However, INEC counsel, Chief Livy Uzoukwu, denied the allegation, saying that the commission had made available all the materials as contained in the tribunal’s order for inspection.

He said the commission would direct its electoral officers at the counsel  headquarters to make the materials, especially the ballot papers, available for inspection.

Counsel for Otti had  opposed the idea of inspecting the materials at the counsel headquarters as argued by INEC, contending that it would make the inspection cumbersome.

He argued that INEC should assemble the materials at its state headquarters where the tribunal had ordered that the  inspection should take  place.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the tribunal, Hon. Justice Usman Bwala, urged the parties to workout a means to ensure the smooth inspection of the materials.

He  also ordered that all the court processes should be served to all the parties before the next adjourned date of Friday, June 26.