PARTIES ADOPT FINAL WRITTEN ADDRESSES IN THE GOVERNOSHIP ELECTION PETITION IN ABIA STATE

The written addresses of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, PDP, INEC and the APGA governoship candidate for the 2019 governoship election in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, have been adopted by the various parties involved in the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia.

After hearing the addresses, The Chairman, Governorship and House of Assembly Elections Petition Panel siting in Umuahia, Justice Lekan Ogumoye, announced that the judgment date for the matter will be communicated to the parties involved.

Adopting his address, the petitioner through his counsel, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said that there is a totally new regime regarding voting and urged the tribunal to dismiss the objections of the respondents.

The counsel for the first respondent and Abia State Governor, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, urged the panel to discountenance the petition saying that the main document the petitioner was relying upon was procured after the petition was filed.

Also, counsel to the 2nd respondent and INEC, Mr. Garba said Local Government evidence are hearsay evidence that cannot be realied upon while Counsel to the 3rd respondent, the PDP, Onyinyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), argued that the case was erected on a very wrong premise and should be dismissed.

The State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, was accompanied to the sitting by the State Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, his Justice counterpart, Chief Uche Ihediwa, PDP State Chairman, Sir Johnson Onuigbo among others were present at the court sitting today.

Otti who came a distant third in the Governorship election in the state held in March is asking the tribunal to cancel the results from all the local government areas where he lost and uphold the two local governments won by him.