How tribunal failed to hold pre-hearing on petitions in Anambra
- Petitions between Rep Dozie Nwankwo of the APGA and Valentine Ayika of PDP at the Anambra election tribunal have failed for pre-hearing sessions
- Falilat Orire, secretary the tribunal, said the sessions failed to hold due to inability of the panels to sit
- Falilat Orire disclosed further that it was due to last minute changes in the allocation of cases to the panels
The two pre-hearing sessions scheduled for Wednesday, May 1, at the Anambra election tribunal have failed to hold due to inability of the panels to sit.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the petitions were between Rep Dozie Nwankwo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Valentine Ayika of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The other was between Rep. Obinna Chidoka of the PDP and Ifeanyi Ibezi of APGA. Nwankwo is challenging the victory of Ayika for Anaocha, Dunukofia and Njikoka federal constituency in Petition no. EPT/AN/HR/07/2019 while Chidoka is contesting the victory of Ibezi for Idemili North and Idemili South Federal Constituency in Petition no. EPT/AN/HR/26/ 2019.
READ ALSO: Emulate Buhari in separating governance from personal interests - Ribadu tells governors-elect
Announcing the shelving of the sessions, Falilat Orire, Secretary the tribunal, said it was due to last minute changes in the allocation of cases to the panels.
Orire said the three panels that would hear petitions in the Anambra election Petitions Tribunal had been constituted and were on ground.
She said the parties would be notified their scheduled dates when it was ready and apologised for the inconveniences caused by yet another postponement.
Ayika said he had no misgivings over the postponement but wondered why the tribunal had not been able to sit on the matter for three times.
PAY ATTENTION: Download our mobile app to enjoy the latest news update
He said he was confident of the validity of his victory at the poll and expressed hope that justice would be delivered.
According to him, “This is about the third time that we came for this pre-hearing and this is about the third time it was rescheduled. But, no problem, I have confidence in the judiciary and I am confident that justice will be done.”
The Anambra Election Petitions Tribunal received 42 petitions, including eight senatorial, nine House of Representatives and 25 for the State House of Assembly.
Legit.ng previously reported the PDP prayed the Elections Petition Tribunal to nullify the election of Chief Chinedu Obidigwe of the APGA as the winner of the February 23 election for Anambra East and Anambra West federal constituencies.
Ernest Nwoye, the candidate of the PDP, made the prayer in his petition to the tribunal sitting in Awka, Anambra state.
The petition marked EPT/AN/HR/03/2019 was filed by Nwoye, C C Ofoegbunam, Maduka Onwuemena, Chikezie Onyinye-Iheazor and Ifeanyi Ifediba.
2019 Election: Atiku heads to court to contest election result, can he win? | Legit TV:
NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better.
Source: Legit.ng