Akwa Ibom tribunal: Akpabio, Ekere fail to produce party agents as witnesses

Akwa Ibom tribunal: Akpabio, Ekere fail to produce party agents as witnesses

Chieftains of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Nsima Ekere and Senator Godswill Akpabio, have reportedly failed to produce their party agents at the Akwa Ibom state election petition tribunal.

The duo are currently at the election tribunal to challenge the results of the 2019 governorship and senatorial elections respectively, no APC member stood as agents during the polls to appear as witnesses in the ongoing trial.

Daily Indepenedent reports that party's agents whose names are in INEC’s record have refused to testify.

A socio-political group Akwa Ibom Liberation Movement (AILM) has accused the APC of deliberate attempts to delay the trial and distract the winners of the election.

READ ALSO: 17 witnesses testify against El-Rufai at governorship tribunal

Speaking at a media briefing on Monday, June 17 in Uyo, the leader of the group, Prince Emmanuel Sam expressed worry over the antics of the opposition party.

He said: “The trial should have been a straight forward process. If you say the election was rigged, that results were misappropriated or there were irregularities, show proof. It is most uncalled for to hire revelers and brass band to disturb the tribunal in session.”

Prince Sam stressed that the APC had the burden of proving their case at the tribunal, advising the party to stay on providing evidence to support its case rather than resort to despicable fanfares like the one acted at the last tribunal session for the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district election.

“As comical as the fanfare was, the witness produced by our dear senator ended up collaborating INEC’s position that there were no elections in the polling units were INEC cancelled results because there was no accreditation.

“We are not surprised by antics of chronic election riggers, who cannot come to terms with reality but have resorted to propaganda and cheap blackmail aimed to arm-twist the tribunal,” he added.

The group maintained that Akwa Ibom people are aware of the antics of the opposition and would continue to stand solidly in support of their leaders especially the governor, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, while awaiting the result the outcome of the tribunal.

READ ALSO: Osun election: Supreme Court adjourns judgement between Adeleke and Oyetola

The governorship election tribunal had on Friday, June 14, frowned at the application by the Ekere seeking for more time to respond to applications made by respondents in the governorship elections petition pre-trials hearings.

The court emphasized that time is of the essence in an election petition case and therefore charged all parties to strive to abide by the timelines as indicated by the electoral act or as directed by the tribunal.

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