Nullify APC Votes, Declare PDP Winner, Witness Tells C’River Tribunal

 

The Legal Adviser of the Cross River State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party, Ikpi Ubana, has told the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in the state to nullify the votes won by the APC in the election and declare his party winner. 

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Ubana said this when he appeared as the fourth and final witness in the petition instituted by his party as suit number EPT/CR/GOV/03M/2023.

Ikpi Ubana, who adopted his three evidences in Chief, said that although the second and third respondents (APC) got the majority of votes they are wasted because they were not qualified to contest the elections as at the time they did.

He contended that the third respondent (Peter Odey) specifically is still in the PDP and has not tendered any resignation.

He said (Peter Odey) is a PDP member who contested for the deputy governorship seat while still in the PDP.

On his British Citizenship, the PDP legal adviser under Cross examination by INEC’S counsel, K.O. Balogun said the third respondent did not file an application for his exemption from signing the Oath of Allegiance.

He said, “There must be an application to the Secretary of home affairs which must be approved but in this case the third respondent has no such exemption.

“Immediately you subscribe to the British Citizenship, you swear to an Oath of Allegiance but he has neither shown us nor explained if he had a waiver.”

The legal adviser also told the tribunal that of their case success, his party should be declared winner of the 2023 governor election in the state.

He contended that his party had evidence to show that the petitioners had 25 per cent votes spread in all the 18 local government councils to be declared winner.

Following the conclusion of his testimony, counsel to the petitioners said they have closed their case.

The judge, Justice Oken Inneh, subsequently adjourned till the 17th to 20th July 2023 for the respondents to open and close their case.

Professor Teddy Adias, the state returning collation officer for the Governorship election had declared APC winner of the election.

He said the APC candidate polled 258, 619 votes to defeat his closest rival, Professor Sandy Onor of the PDP who polled 179, 636 votes.