Tina Amanda
The Election Petition Appeal Court sitting in Portharcourt has reserved judgement on four appeals before it.
Two of the appeals filed by the African Action Congress AAC governorship candidate, Biokpomabo Awara, against AAC PARTY, INEC, PDP and its governorship candidate Governor Nyesom Wike, are challenging the ruling of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal delivered on 8th July.
TAIWO TAIWO, Counsel to the Applicant, asked the court to discountenance the preliminary objections made by all respondents in the matter while urging the court to allow the appeal for the interest of Justice and for the appeal to be heard on merit.
HENRY BELLO Counsel to AAC which is the1st Respondent in the matter asked the court to dismiss the appeals, describing it as incompetent.
Also, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Respondents urged the court to dismiss the appeals, asking the court to sustain the preliminary objections.
The five-man panel led by Justice J.O BADA reserved judgement on the four appeals.
Speaking to our reporter Tina Amanda, counsel representing Governor Nyesom Wike, said the petition should come to an end, the applicant should go home and prepare for 2023 election
Counsel to AAC, HENRY BELLO, said they have argued and adopted all the processes waiting for the court decision.
On his part, LIVINGSTON WOYIKE Counsel to INEC noted that counsels in the matter have all raised preliminary objections of the appeals challenging the competency of the appeal.
In the same vein, The Election Petition Appeal Court also reserved judgement on the two other appeals filed by the Action Democratic Party ADP and its governorship candidate Victor Fingesi, challenging the interlocutory ruling of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal delivered on 4th July, which is seeking for amendment of clerical errors.
Counsel to ADP, DOLAPO TELLA-ANTONI, prayed the court to grant their application and discountenance the preliminary objections made by the Respondents.
The 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents in the matter urged the court not to find merit in the appeal, asking for the total dismissal of the appeal.
