Akwa Ibom: Tribunal overrules INEC on destroyed ballot papers

-
The Akwa Ibom State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja, Wednesday, overruled an objection by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the state of the ballot papers which were allegedly used during the April 11, 2015 governorship election in Akwa Ibom State.
INEC is testifying in a matter brought before the tribunal by candidate for the All Progressive Congress, Umana Umana. Umana is challenging conduct of the election and declaration of Udom Emmanuel as winner of the poll.
Counsel to the Petitioners, Mr. Solomon Umoh, SAN had asked the Defence Witness 26, Mr. Dominic Okenna, the Electoral Officer for Onna Local Government Area, under cross examination whether he had kept the ballot papers for Onna safely and securely after the election as prescribed in exhibit 338 paragraph 1.1.2, which is the Manual for Election Officials, and he said yes.
Mr. Umoh then asked him to identify the ballot papers used for Onna local government from among the rest since the ballot papers used for the entire state was in court. Counsel to INEC Mr. Alex Ejesieme objected to the question. He contended that the Petitioners did not plead the state of the ballot papers in their petition and that by the Practice Direction, it was wrong for the Petitioners to seek to cross examine the witness on the issue as that will amount to taking the Respondents by surprise. He further contended that if the Petitioners wanted the witness to produce the ballot papers in court they should have served him with a notice to produce same.
In their contributions, counsel to the 1st and 2nd Respondents, Messrs Paul Usoro, SAN and Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, governor Udom Emmanuel and the Peoples Democratic Party, respectively, said they had no objection to the question on the state of the ballot papers and declined to support INEC’s objection.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Palace keeps mum as Ooni’s deputy, Obalufe dies at 83..

-
By Edward Jaleyemi O SOGBO —The Ooni of Ife’s  second-in-command and the leader of Ile-Ife traditional kingmakers, the Obalufe (Orunto)  of Iremo quarters, Oba Solomon Omisakin is dead, aged 85. His death may have compounded the  uncertainty surrounding the selection process of the new Ooni of Ife which has resulted in litigations. However informed sources told  Vanguard  yesterday that; ‘’He had concluded the process of selection of the new Ooni before he died.’’ Oba Omisakin’s death is coming barely three months after the death of Oba Okunade Sijuwade in a London hospital. The Obalufe is also the prime minister of Ife and oversees affairs in the town in the absence of an Ooni. Vanguard  gathered that Oba Omisakin’s death occurred at about 10 am yesterday   at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital OAUTH, Ile Ife. Though the circumstance surrounding the death of the 85-year-old Obalufe was still sketchy at the time of fi...
Continue Reading...

DSS commissions 385 officers, to tackle insecurity..

-
Image
By Edward Jaleyemi DEPARTMENT of State Services (DSS) weekend, in Lagos, commissioned 385 cadet officers in a bid to combat the rising security challenges in the country. The 385 officers were the lucky ones that successfully went through 10 months of rigorous professional, academic and physical training and were certified fit to serve the nation in their capacity as members of DSS, out of the 459 cadet officers that started the training late last year. The officers were commissioned amidst promises by the DSS to COLLABORATE  more with other sister security agencies in its fight against insecurity and to ensure that recruitment into the Service was merit-based in keeping with its extant guidelines. Speaking at the passing out parade at the State Service Academy (SSA), Lagos State, the Director General, SS, Mr. Lawal Daura, said gone were the days when misfits or non-eligible candidates found their way into the Service. “The aim is to ensure that only the right calibers...
Continue Reading...