No Accreditation In Akwa Ibom Governorship Election—Udom Emmanuel’s Witnesses

Nsima Ekere the Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 9, 2019 Governorship election has since after the election began the process of challenging his stolen mandate before the Governorship Elections Petition sitting in Akwa Ibom State

The governor whose election is being challenged by the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its governorship candidate in the state, opened his defence before the tribunal by producing witnesses that testified on his behalf.

At the resumed hearing of the Tribunal on Monday, Governor Udom Emmanuel’s Counsel, Chief Assam Assam, SAN had informed the Tribunal that they were not ready and sought for an adjournment.

At the resumption of hearings in the Petition filed by Mr. Nsima Ekere the Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 9, 2019 Governorship election, the four witnesses called so far by Udom Emmanuel in defence of his declaration a winner of the election by INEC confirmed that voters were not accredited in the elections on March 9.

Among witnesses who testified was the National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem. He was the State collation agent for his party. He told the Tribunal that he and other voters were duly accredited and they voted and the elections went well and his party won convincingly. But when confronted with the voters’ register, he was visibly embarrassed as there were no ticks in the boxes provided to indicate that he was accredited. He insisted he was accredited, de-accredited and re-accredited.

“There was a tick, a cancellation, a thumbprint and a tick where you have ‘FA’”, which, according to him means “Federal Assembly”.

When pressed further he blurted out: “this has been the best election in Nigeria since 1999” and congratulated INEC for a job well done to which Sylva Ogwuemoh, SAN Counsel to INEC acknowledged with glee.”

The other witnesses called by Governor Udom Emmanuel’s team, Hon. Aniekan Dan from Etim Ekpo, Mr. Christopher Ukpong from Oruk Anam, Mr. Mbet Essien from Nsit Ibom; Uduak Essien from Ukanafun and Attah Akrang who claimed to be from Edemaya in Ikot Abasi LGA.

They all claimed to have voted during the election. But Prof Ernest Ojukwu, SAN the Petitioner’s lead counsel who led a team of lawyers including Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN and Effiong Oquong Esq and Veteran Faotu, Esq amongst others upon cross examination confronted them with the voters’ registers for their respective Wards, it became obvious they were never accredited. They said it was INEC’s responsibility to do accreditation.

The legal team for Governor Udom Emmanuel led by Chief Assam Assam, SAN requested for an adjournment.