Tribunal Update: Ekere Vs Emmanuel (Commentary)

Proceedings resume today at the Governorship Elections Petitions Tribunal where Governor Udom Emmanuel and PDP are expected to continue their defence.

 

Before the Tribunal adjourned on 2nd of August, 2019 the Respondents had put in a total of 13 Witnesses. Most of the witnesses, it ended up were not accredited, but insisted they voted. They roundly blamed INEC for failure to accredit them.

 

Mr. Ime Umanah from Ukanafun, had wet his clothes under the heat of cross examination from Prof Ojukwu SAN. He had earlier feigned blindness and was graciously offered glasses to aid his reading exhibits shown to him.

 

The Respondents also presented another witness RW13 Uduak Akpan Ama who claimed to come from Edemaya in Ikot Abasi. His name was not found on the Voters register and he claimed to have voted for PDP. Findings revealed that he’s a Cameroonian with his mother from Uta Esa a fishing settlement in Ikot Abasi.

 

As we expect more witnesses to testify, the results will not be different. The elections were seen to be roundly compromised and manipulated in favour of Governor Udom Emmanuel and PDP without recourse to the Electoral Act or INEC guidelines.

 

While the Respondents continue to labour to justify the electoral heist of March 9, it is to be seen how they’ll escape the vigilant lenses of the formidable Petitioners team ably led by JS. Okutepa SAN.