In what has become a closely watched legal battle, the Akwa Ibom State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Uyo, has announced the scheduled dates for delivering judgments on several pending petitions. The tribunal, consisting of a three-member panel of justices led by Justice Adekunle Adeleye, is set to make crucial decisions on the outcomes of petitions filed by various candidates.
The petitions in question have been submitted by key political figures, each contesting the victory of Governor Umo Eno of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18, 2023 election, as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The petitioners include Obong Akan Udofia of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator John James Akpanudoedehe of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Bassey Akpan of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), and Arc. Ezekiel Nya-Etok of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Notably, two previous petitions filed by the Governorship candidates of the Accord Party and Action Alliance, Emem Coffee and Jeremiah Akpan, were already addressed by the tribunal and dismissed for lacking merit.
The upcoming judgments are expected to bring clarity to the ongoing legal disputes surrounding the Akwa Ibom gubernatorial election. On Wednesday, September 27, the tribunal is set to deliver judgments in the petitions of the NNPP and the ADC. Final written addresses were adopted by the concerned parties on Monday, September 25.
The list of respondents in the suit filed by Nya Etok and the ADC includes the INEC, Governor Umo Eno, the PDP, Bassey Akpan, and others. This legal battle involves a complex web of parties, with each side presenting its arguments and evidence before the tribunal.
Furthermore, the Governorship tribunal has scheduled Thursday, September 28th, for delivering judgment on the petitions brought forward by the APC and its candidate. The concluding judgment for Bassey Akpan of the YPP is slated for Friday, September 29th.
This series of judgments follows the tribunal’s decision to reserve judgment after all parties in the governorship electoral matter had the opportunity to present their final written addresses. The outcomes of these rulings will undoubtedly have significant implications for the political landscape in Akwa Ibom State.
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