2019 Guber Poll: Tribunal Warns Nsima Ekere Against Undue Delay

On Friday, June 14, the Governorship Elections Tribunal sitting in Uyo, frowned at the application filed by Nsima Ekere, the Governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) seeking for more time to respond to applications made by respondents in the governorship elections petition pre-trials hearings,

The court in its statement also emphasized that time is essential in an election petition case and therefore charged all parties to strive to abide by the timelines as indicated by the Electoral Act or as directed by the Tribunal.

It was learnt that the case has been adjourned to June 14, 2019 to hear all applications in the suit and the completion of pre-trial. 

But counsel to the Petitioner, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN at the session at the Magistrate Court Complex in Uyo, prayed the court for an extension of the pre-trial period to enable them prepare their responses to the applications as filed by the Respondents.

The counsel to the Respondents, Chief Assam Assam, SAN for the 1st Respondent, Uko Udom, SAN for the 2nd Respondent and Offiong Offiong, SAN for the 3rd Responent were unanimous in their position that they would not oppose the application of the Petitioner, except that he cannot predicate his prayers on unsubstantiated allegations against Respondents.

The counsel to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd had all filed their applications for hearing today but the Petitioner failed to respond to most of the Applications, hence the application for the extension of time.

The court yielded to the prayers of the Petitioner and extended the pre-trial period to June 21, 2019 for completion of pre-trial hearings.

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