Protests Over Relocation Of Ebonyi Election Petition Tribunal To Abuja

Protests on Thursday trailed the decision to relocate the Election Petition Tribunal from Abakaliki, the state capital, to Abuja.
The All Progressive Congress (APC) and a youths group, Unwuekunenyi United Youths Forum, kicked against the relocation of the Tribunal.

The two groups in separate statements described the decision as a ploy to subvert the course of justice.

They called for the Tribunal to be returned back to Abakaliki, the capital.

The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, on Wednesday, announced that the office of the Ebonyi Elections Petition Tribunal, Abakaliki, had been shut down.

She directed that the Tribunal be relocated to Abuja immediately.

According to her, all processes relating to matters before the Tribunal will continue in Abuja.

But the Ebonyi youths group protested against the relocation citing hardship on the people and lack of funds to mobilize both human and material resources to the nation’s capital during the sitting of the Tribunal.

They accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of orchestrating the relocation.

The group said that it was worried that there is bias or prejudice, in granting one party the preference of choosing a venue outside the Ebonyi State capital, Abakaliki.

National President of the group, Prince Uche Ega, noted that the panel of judges in the Ebonyi State Election Petition Tribunal were never under any pressure of threat, attack or any other danger.

The APC in a statement by the State Chairman, Stanley Emegha in a letter to the National Chairman, Abdulahi Adamu implored him to use his good office to reach out to the appropriate authorities in ensuring a reversal of the decision.

They noted that the call for Governorship, National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal resuming sitting in Abakaliki Ebonyi State Capital is in the interest of justice, equity and fairness.