The 13 appeals against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been rejected by the Local Government Election Tribunals, which were established in connection with the October 5, 2024, Chairmanship and Councillorship elections in Akwa Ibom state.
The 13 cases were brought by the All Progressives Congress (APC), according to PDP State Legal Advisor Ekemini Uba (Esq), who made this revelation to reporters Friday night in Uyo.
Uba claims that the complaints were rejected for incompetence because they were filed after the deadline by the Tribunals for Uyo (Akwa Ibom Northeast) and Ikot Ekpene (Akwa Ibom Northwest), which were presided over by George Ituen and Samuel Akpabio, respectively.
“As respondents, we filed our briefs and in all cases, challenged their competences before the Tribunals and prayed the Tribunals to dismiss all the cases.
“I am excited to inform us that after due consideration of all the cases, the two Tribunals which presided over the cases have dismissed the petitions and re-affirmed the victories of our party candidates.
“In upholding our submissions the Tribunals held that the petitions were incompetent having been filed out of time. I, therefore, congratulate all our 13 candidates for their Victories at the tribunals.
“I equally congratulate the leader of our party, our peace- loving Governor, Pastor Umo Eno for his role in the political stability in our state. I implore all political actors and stakeholders in our state to emulate the Governor who has shown that elections and politics generally should not be a do or die affair.
” Though we were defeated in some areas, he never allowed us to contest those defeats at the Tribunal. Our governor believes that God gives power to whom he wishes, and that there are always new opportunities to explore after elections.”
In response to inquiries from reporters, the PDP’s State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Edwin Ebiese, clarified that the party only lost a few councillorship seats in the same LGA as well as the Essien Udim Chairmanship seat in Ika LGA.