Tribunal Upholds OBA, Ekpenyong Elections

**As Rt. Hon. Bassey Etim (BAFIL) appeals judgment

The Akwa Ibom State National/State Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal (Panel 2) sitting at the Sanitation Court, Uyo Akwa Ibom State has delivered judgment in series of cases pending before it.

Justice Jennifer Ijohor, the Chairman of the Tribunal, whose Panel was disbanded by the President of the Court of Appeal some months ago over a Petition by the All Progressives Congress (APC), Akwa Ibom State Chapter alleging likelihood of bias on account of matrimonial ties with a notable member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Secretary to the Benue State Government, Professor Anthony Ijohor, SAN has delivered judgment in the cases between Bassey Etim v. Bassey Albert Akpan, Victor Antai v. Hon. Nse Ekpenyong and Emmanuel Ukoette v. Unyime Idem.

In her judgments, Justice Jennifer Ijohor dismissed all the petitions brought by the APC Candidates for lacking in merit.

Reacting to the judgment, a supporter of Hon. Bassey Etim, Mr. Ifiok Ekanem expressed shock over the outcome of the cases.

“We had a good case and we proved our case beyond every reasonable doubt but the judgment today by Justice Ijohor came to us as a surprise”.

“Our principal has applied for the certified true copy of the judgment and we are heading to the Court of Appeal for the judicial scrutiny and review of her judgment. However, with the unceremonious way she was asked by the Appeal Court President to leave Akwa Ibom State tribunal, we knew her judgment cannot favour us.”

In the Petition leading to Justice Jennifer Ijohor’s ouster, the APC also complained of high-handedness in handling some of the cases brought before His Panel and argued that it was on account of His lordship’s unhidden affinity with PDP in her home state of Benue State and how she handled cases before her during the pre-hearing stages where many cases were struck out.

At pre-hearing, petition number EPT/AKS/HR/08/2019 between Edidiong Idiong & APC v. Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo, PDP & INEC for Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency was struck out on account of an interlocutory application despite Petitioners’ Counsel’s spirited effort to draw her attention to the extent laws.

It should be noted that, the cases decided today were those that were concluded before the disbandment of the Panel by the Court of Appeal.