The Ebonyi State Election Petitions Tribunal must move to Abuja right away, per a directive from Court of Appeal President Monica Dongban-Mensem.
On Wednesday, Nyior Sekulla, the tribunal’s secretary, made the announcement in Abakaliki.
He claimed that as a result of the directive, the tribunal office at the Abakaliki location of the Ebonyi State Judiciary Headquarters has been closed as of Wednesday.
He stated that all proceedings pertaining to the tribunal’s cases would continue in Abuja.
“In accordance with the HPCA directives, the petitioners, counsel to parties, and general public are hereby informed via this medium that, as of April 26, 2019, the EPT sitting here in Abakaliki ceased to operate in Abakaliki; filings of processes, taking of proceedings, etc., shall going forward take place in Abuja.”
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When questioned about the decision to relocate the tribunal to Abuja, Mr. Henry responded that he was unable to comment on the matter.
However, he pointed out that one other state’s and Rivers State’s election petition tribunals were also impacted.
Ifeanyi Odii, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, and Bernard Odoh, a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, both opposed Francis Nwifuru’s declaration as the winner of the 18 March election and the state’s next governor.
The All Progressives Congress candidate, Mr. Nwifuru, was Governor David Umahi’s top choice for replacement. He serves as the Ebonyi House of Assembly’s Speaker.
The different political parties had not yet responded to the election tribunal’s move to Abuja.
