Apprehension over sitting in Abuja
Okey Maduforo, Awka
Six days to the expiration of the 21-day deadline for the filing of petitions challenging the outcome of the November 6th gubernatorial election in Anambra State the Elections Petitions Tribunal is yet to receive any petition from the political parties or their gubernatorial candidates.
According to the law aggrieved candidates or their political parties have 21 days from the date of the declaration of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to file their petitions.
It would be recalled that the Returning Officer for the Anambra governorship election, Prof. Florence Obi at about 12 .30 am on November 10 declared Prof Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) the winner of the election.
Three days after that declaration, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Andy Uba and the candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) Mr Afam Umezeoke indicated that they would challenge the declaration at the tribunal.
According to the counsel to Umezeoke and National Vice Chairman South East of the party, Bar Emeka Agbapuonwu, who spoke with reporters yesterday, there is still time adding that he and his candidate have concluded all arrangements to file their petition.
But there are also fears that the Election Petitions Tribunal Panel may sit at Abuja instead of Awka following fears of insecurity as alleged.
But the secretary of the Tribunal Bar Surjo Gusau dismissed this report saying that once a petition or even a motion is filed in respect of the election the panel would certainly come to Awka.