Abia scores election petition tribunal high

urges opposition to refrain from campaign of calumny

Abia State government has expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Governorship, National and State House of Assembly election petition tribunal in the state, describing it as true reflection of justice to all parties concerned.

It, however, advised the main opposition in the state, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), to eschew any act that could jeopardise the peace in the state.

Godwin Adindu, chief press secretary to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who said this while addressing journalists in Umuahia, the state capital, noted that Abia people were happy with the judgments delivered so far by the members of the tribunal, even though they were yet to complete their assignment.

He said the people were very much happy with the painstaking efforts with which they had addressed all issues brought before it.

“Election cases are not quite easy, but the tribunal has taken pains to address all the matters before it one after the other. Abia people are happy with all the judgment so far delivered. We believe that the judgments are fair to all concerned and they have reflected the true taste of justice, and the wheel of justice has been allowed to run its full course in election cases in Abia State,” he said.

Adindu condemned the attempts by some elements of the opposition in the state to dent and assassinate the character and the integrity of the honourable jurist of the tribunal by accusing them of collecting bribe from the PDP as well as being compromised with properties in the United States of America for them to alter justice.

The governor’s chief scribe insisted that such allegations and accusations levelled against such jurist were not palatable at all and at the same time do not reflect the true identity of the Abia people and as such “the Abia State government wants to dissociate itself from such comments.

“We vehemently condemn in totality the action of those making such comments and we also want to advise them to refrain from insulting the intelligence of our judiciary.

“We as a people respect the rule of law, the impartiality of the judiciary; we respect the judiciary as the last bastion of hope for the masses and therefore, will not be happy when anybody or group of persons tries to dent the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary.

“We believe that the tribunal members have done a good work in Abia State and they are going to complete their work successfully, having taken the final written addresses of both parties and having dismissed sine die. We all also hope that they will come up with the date of the final judgment which will be fair to both parties.”

He also condemned “the serial campaign of calumny” that had been unleashed against the tribunal on the pages of newspapers by the opposition members in the state, adding that just from last weekend there had been four full-page advertorials alleging all manner of things against the tribunal members.

“In one of such advertorials, the authors even campaigned for the jailing and execution of the members of the tribunal. We say that the people who have been making such attempts to undermine the judges are not guided by good morals and wisdom and therefore, we ask them to refrain from such act without delay,” he said.

He alleged that the chairman of the major opposition party, Austine Ehiemere, further embarrassed the state when he openly denied having knowledge of one of such advertorials he authored and signed, which was published on page 49 of a national newspaper on Friday, October 16, 2015.

“Such action was very embarrassing to his person and party and the people of Abia State. It shows the level of desperation with which this opposition party is pursuing the issues of election. It shows that they are not ready to serve Abia people in all sincerity but only advertise their quest for personal aggrandisement,” he said