Tribunal to hear Amaechi’s, INEC’s suit

The Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal yesterday ruled that the applications by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National

The Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal yesterday ruled that the applications by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would be taken before the commencement of a trial. 

It adjourned the case till tomorrow.

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Celestine Omehia, filed a petition challenging the declaration of Amaechi and his running mate, Tele Ikuru, as winner in last April’s governorship election.

PDP and INEC are also joined in the suit.

The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Abdullahi Liman, commenced sitting yesterday at 10:28 am at the State High Court Complex, Port Harcourt.

But Amaechi’s lead counsel, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), who held brief for Lafeef Fagbemi (SAN), called the tribunal’s attention to his fresh application.

INEC’s lead counsel Emmanuel Ukala also filed a similar application.

Omehia and APGA‘s counsel James Ezike, however, objected to the applications, which he described as an attempt to delay justice.

He said he was served with Amaechi’s and Ikuru’s application on Tuesday, while he got INEC’s application in the courtroom yesterday.

After the brief arguments by the counsel and with no objection from PDP’s lead counsel Ighodalo Imapegbelo (SAN) , the tribunal rose at 11:10 am.

The three judges returned to their seats at 12:15 pm and  declared that the respondents’ applications would be taken before the commencement of trial.

On the fresh applications, it was gathered that Amaechi and Ikuru wanted some paragraphs in Omehia’s and APGA’s petition struck out .

INEC prayed the tribunal to  strike out the “offending” paragraphs.