The Abia State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, Abia State, has fixed July 10 and 13 for the pre-hearing of the petition filed by the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, Dr. Alex Otti, against the victory of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
In the petition, Otti seeks the nullification of Ikpeazu’s election. He urged the tribunal to declare him the winner of the governorship election.
Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Usman Bwala, who adjourned sitting on Thursday, ordered all court processes to be served before the next date of sitting.
He gave all the parties up till Thursday next week to file all their motions, warning that no other motions would be acceptable after the next sitting.
Counsel for Otti, Chief Awa Kalu (SAN), had during the sitting, withdrawn a petition he had earlier filed which sought an order of the tribunal to enable Otti inspect all the materials used in the election.
He lamented that the Independent National Electoral Commission was making the inspection of the materials too cumbersome for Otti.
Counsel for Ikpeazu, Chief Chibuike Nwokeukwu, said that he had filed a motion urging the tribunal to strike out Otti’s petition “for incompetence’’.
He said Otti’s claims that he was being denied access to electoral materials were aimed at whipping up unnecessary sentiments.
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