Judex Okoro, Calabar
Not satisfied with the outcome of the National Assembly election held on February 23, 11 candidates of the APC and SDP have filled petitions at Election Petition Tribunal for Cross River State challenging the outcome of the exercise.
The petitioners include Sen Victor Ndoma Egba, (APC) Solomon Esor (SDP), Sen Bassey Otu, Jude Ngaji and Mkpanam Obo-Bassey Ekpo.
The secretary of the Election Petition Tribunal in the state, Mrs. Josephine Ekperobe, who made this known to newsmen in Calabar, said the time frame for filing a petition for the National Assembly elections elapsed on March 17, adding that time was still open for the filing of any petition pertaining to the governorship and state Assembly elections.
Mrs. Ekperobe said formal inauguration of the tribunal would be done soon.
Details of the 11 petitions before the tribunal are Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba and All Progressives Congress versus Ntufam (Dr) Sandy Ojang Onor, PDP and INEC, Solomon Idor Esor, SDP versus Sandy Ojang Onor, PFP, and INEC, Mr Egbe Abeng Egbe, APC, versus Hon. Michael Etaba, PDP, and INEC as well as Victor Abang, APC, versus INEC and Hon. Chris Agibe and PDP.
Others are Sen. Bassey Edet Otu versus Sen. Gershom Henry Bassey and INEC, Jude Ogbeche Ngaji versus Jarigbe Agom Jaribe and INEC, Mkpanam Obo-Bassey Ekpo versus Daniel Effiong Asuquo and INEC, Akiba Bassey Ekpenyong versus Rt. (Hon) Eta Mbora and INEC and Wabilly Nyiam versus Oko-Rose Okojie and INEC.
The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. John Gaul Lebo, PDP, also filed a petition: People’s Democratic Party versus Dr. Alex Egbona PDP, and INEC and Dominic Aqua Edem, PDP, versus Hon. Essien Ayi and INEC.