Udeme Utip
At least 15 petitions have been received in respect of alleged irregularities during the just concluded general elections, as of March 29, the National Assembly and Governorship elections tribunal sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom has disclosed.
The Secretary of the 2023 Election Petition Tribunal in the State, Mr Ibrahim Usman, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen in Uyo on Wednesday.
According to Usman, the 15 petitions were filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC), Young Progressives Party (YPP), New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), Labour Party (LP), and Allied People’s Movement (APM).
He said that out of the 15 petitions received, 11 emanated from the House of Representatives and four from the Senate.
The secretary also disclosed that two motions filed by YPP for inspections of election materials and the motions have been granted by the tribunal.
“Similarly, an application by the All Progressives Congress regarding the governorship election for inspection of election materials was received and a petition granted. We are in the process of effecting service of the petitions and respondents,” he said.
According to him, the senatorial petitions received were from Akwa Ibom North East and Akwa Ibom South senatorial districts, while no petition was received from Akwa Ibom North West.
He said that the Electoral Act allows 21 days for the petitioner to file a petition from the date of declaration and 21 days for the respondents to file their responses after receiving them.
Tribune reports that some candidates who participated in the March 18 governorship election in the state have shunned the tribunal and have since congratulated the winner, pastor Umo Eno of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) .
They include candidates of the Accord party, ADP, and LP, among others.
