The Anambra Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal is set to begin sitting after receiving two more petitions, despite the expiration of the 21-day deadline. A total of 13 petitions have been filed against the conduct of the November 6 election.
The latest petitioners, Peoples Progressive Alliance (APP) and the Mega Party (MP), are seeking the cancellation of the election on the grounds of irregularities.
The tribunal is expected to look into the motion ex parte filed by Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Prof Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
The duo want the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow them to inspect materials used during the election.
The Secretary of the tribunal Surajo Gusua, who spoke to reporters yesterday, said it is only the tribunal judges or President of the Court of Appeal that could determine if the APP and MP submitted their petitions within a time limit or not.
Meanwhile, some of the petitioners are allegedly working with the respondents for an out-of-court settlement.
But the Special Adviser to Governor Wille Obiano on Political Matters Ifeatu Obiokoye dismissed the allegations of settlement out of court, stressing APGA’s readiness for the legal battle to affirm Soludo’s victory.
“It is only a political party that is not sure of its results that go about pleading for settlement out of court. The entire world knows that we won the election and there is no gainsaying the obvious fact that some people are in court for an intellectual exercise like they did at the Federal High Court about a certain form Soludo filled and they ended up getting a fine of N 2 million for wasting taxpayers money,” he said.
Investigations revealed that hearing on the petitions before the tribunal commence towards the end of the month or early next month.
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