Party describes Abia tribunal judgment as "a mockery of democracy"

dimeji akinloye

November 3, 2015 11:33 PM

"But all hope is not lost,’’ he said, adding that the party was sure of victory and would appeal the judgment.

The National Chairman, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Oye, has described the judgement of the governorship election tribunal in Abia state as "a mockery of democracy’’.

Oye, who addressed the people at the party secretariat on Ikot Ekpene Road, Umuahia, told the party supporters in the state to remain calm, saying that the party did not expect justice from the tribunal.

Read: Tribunal upholds Governor Ikpeazu’s election victory

He assured them that the party would leave no stone unturned to reclaim their mandate, adding that they would study the judgment and proceed to the Appeal Court to seek redress.

The state chairman of APGA, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, said that the judgment had left Abia people mourning as the tribunal "has murdered sleep in the state’’.

NAN reports that Umuahia was calm and quiet as people moved about their normal businesses amid tight security, as armed men mounted surveillance at strategic points in the state capital.

Read: Nigerians react to Abia State's tribunal judgement

Meanwhile, a cross-section of tricycle operators otherwise called ‘Keke’ operators, artisans and traders expressed misgivings over the judgment.

Kingsley Ikoro, a vulcanizer on Aba Road, Umuahia, Onyebuchi Anyim, a keke operator, and Anthony Nwachukwu, said in separate interviews that the judgment had "completely eroded’’ their belief in the judiciary.

"You can never get justice in the court,’’ Nwachukwu said, adding that Umuahia would have been agog today, if Otti had been declared winner.

NAN reports that the tribunal dismissed Dr. Alex Otti's petition on grounds that he could not prove beyond doubt that he won the election.

Otti, who was APGA's governorship candidate in the April general elections, went to the tribunal to challenge the declaration of Ikpeazu as the governor of the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

dimeji akinloye