Akwa Ibom Governorship Tribunal: Udom’s Victory Based On Radio Reports TheNigerialawyer

Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien has said Governor Udom Emmanuel’s
victory in the March 9, 2019 Governorship election in Akwa Ibom
State was based on radio reports.

Senator Ibok Essien stated this while testifying for the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) sued as 2nd Respondents in the Petition
filed by Mr. Nsima Ekere and All Progressives Congress (APC).
Senator Ibok Essien is listed as RW23 and had filed a written
statement on Oath in defence of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s
declaration as winner of the Governorship election in the ongoing
Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Uyo.

In his written statement on Oath, Senator Ibok Essien had
averred that elections across the State were the freest and fairest
conducted by INEC since 1999. He stated that he was accredited and
he voted In Unit 005, Ward 4 in Ikot Ekpene for Governor Udom
Emmanuel and thereafter accompanied the electoral materials to the
Ward and Local Government Collation centres.

Under cross-examination by Petitioners Counsel JS. Okutepa, SAN
leading Prof. Ernest Ojukwu, SAN, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN etc,
the following interaction ensued:

Okutepa: Were you accredited?
Senator: Yes

Okutepa: Tell the Tribunal the process of accreditation
Senator: Narrates process of accreditation.

Okutepa: You refer to yourself as a stakeholder and member of
Divine Mandate Campaign Organization?
Senator: Yes

Okutepa: You worked closely with Elder Okon Patrick Albert who
testified earlier in the proceedings in Divine Mandate Campaign
Organization?
Senator: Yes. He was Chairman of NUJ (Nigeria Union of
Journalists).

Okutepa: You testified globally and declared that the election
in Akwa Ibom State was the freest, fairest and most credible since
1999?
Senator: Yes

Okutepa: Including the elections that made you a Senator in
1999?
Senator: Yes because the Card Reader has been introduced.

Okutepa: Were you a polling unit agent?
Senator: No

Okutepa: Do you know that on election day, there is restriction
of movement except you’re on essential services escorted by
security?
Senator: Yes.

Okutepa: So you did not leave your polling unit?
Senator: No, I did not.

Okutepa: How then did you know elections were free and fair
across the whole State?
Senator: I heard commentaries on radio.

Okutepa: And on TV?
Senator: No.

Okutepa: Finally Distinguished Senator, you deposed on Oath that
you were accredited and voted at Ward 4, unit 005. Please look for
your name and photo in the certified true copy (CTC) of INEC’s
voters register and show this honourable Tribunal.

Curiously, the Senator’s name or photograph did not appear where
he claimed to have voted. The entire evidence of Parties and
witnesses in an election Petition are contained in their
depositions on Oath. By his admission and showing, it was obvious
the Senator never voted. If anything, his testimony put a lie to
the initial testimony of Elder Okon Patrick Albert who testified as
RW17 and denied membership of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s Divine
Mandate Campaign Organization. Elder Okon Albert has claimed he
interfaced with all Parties in the election as an independent
monitor.

Mr. Nsima Ekere and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are
challenging the outcome of the said election and seeking a
nullification of same on grounds of corrupt practices,
irregularities and being contrary to the Electoral Act, 2010 (as
amended) and the Guidelines for the Elections issued by INEC.

Hearing in the Petition continues as the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) had pleaded for more time and given an undertaking to
conclude its case on Tuesday without fail.