Ex-Gov vows to get justice on Abia North senatorial rerun election

A former governor of Abia, Chief Orji Kalu, has vowed to exhaust judicial process to get justice in the 2015 rerun senatorial poll in Abia North senatorial zone.

Kalu, the candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance in the elections, made this known after he testified at the State and National Assembly Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Umuahia on Tuesday.

Led in evidence by Mr Kelvin Nwafor (SAN), his counsel, Kalu adopted his deposition on Oath before the three-member tribunal, headed by Justice James Abundaga.

He also verified and confirmed result sheets from polling units in Arochukwu Local Government Area, namely Arochukwu Ward 3, Uturu and Ohafor Wards.

The result sheets were tendered by Nwafor and admitted in evidence by the tribunal,.

Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Chief Livy Uzoukwu (SAN) counsel to the respondent, Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, reserved their objections for the final written addresses.

The tribunal chairman later adjourned sitting to Wednesday for the cross-examination of the petitioner.

Kalu, who spoke with newsmen after the proceeding, expressed absolute confidence in the judiciary.

He said that he would exhaust the judicial process to recover the mandate allegedly given to him by the people during the election.

"I am at the tribunal to fight for justice instead of using machete and arrows to attack people, the court is a legitimate place to settle disputes.

"I have always maintained, even when I was a governor, that the judiciary has done a lot for the common man and I will not be an exception.

"I have faith in the judiciary at all levels and I have absolute confidence that the tribunal members will do a good job," he said.

He said that his expectation was for the tribunal "to recount the votes and declare me the winner."

Kalu, who was Abia governor between 1999 and 2007, said that he would appeal the tribunal'sjudgment, if it failed to declare him the winner of the election.