11 parties, candidates storm tribunal to challenge Soludo’s victory

By CHIMEZIE ANASO

Eleven political parties that participated in the Nov. 6 and Nov. 9 governorship election in Anambra have filed petitions challenging the outcome of the exercise.

Mr Surajo Gusau, Secretary of the 2021 Anambra Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, disclosed this to newsmen in Awka on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor-elect, Prof. Charles Soludo and his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was declared winner of the election.

Gusau however said the timeline for filing notice of petitions had elapsed.

He said members of the 3-man panel were expected to arrive in Anambra following the filing of the petitions and that the fears that the panel would sit in Abuja was not correct.

This is against the backdrop that petitioners had appealed to the President of the Court of Appeal to allow the tribunal sit in Awka as the cost and inconveniences of going to Abuja were enormous.

NAN reports that the All Progressives Congress (APC) with its candidate, Sen. Andy Uba, was among those who approached the tribunal with petitions.

Also, the Action Democratic Party (ADP) and its candidate, Prince Afam Ume-Ezeoke, in their petition prayed the tribunal for the nullification of the election on the ground that the Bi-Modal Accreditation Verification System (BVAS) was not in the electoral act.

The Accord Party with its candidate, Dr Godwin Maduka, also called for the nullification of the election on the ground of irregularities.

Meanwhile, Mr Ifeatu Obiokoye, Special Adviser to Gov Wille Obiano on Political Matters, told reporters that APGA was not losing sleep over the petitions, adding that a particular party was sponsoring some lesser political parties to go to tribunal.

Obiokoye said that “Our party APGA won the election and we are prepared to defend our mandate at the tribunal”. (NAN)