By Ada Bosa
The Anambra State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka today admitted a total of 4109 exhibits tendered by Senator Chris Ngige and All Progressive Congress (APC) in respect of the disputed elections of November 16th, 17th and 30th November 2013 even as the Tribunal was told that Otuocha Ward I results –home ward for Chief Willie Obiano, APGA candidate who was declared by INNEC as winner of election was not released by INEC.
This brings to a total of 4,705 exhibits so far admitted.
Senator Chris Ngige, candidate of the APC in the elections, and his party are in second petition (02) pending before the three man panel headed by Hon Justice Ishaq Bello Petition 02seeking an order of the Tribunal to ca el the entire election and repeat it. Also seeking the cancellation in the said election in other petitions 03 and 04 respectively are Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) AND Comrade Tony Nwoye.
In a consolidated hearing of the petitions which resumed today from last week Friday, Ngige tendered the used voter registers certified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and used in the elections in virtually all polling units and all wards across 12 local government areas (LGAs) of the state.
Also admitted were all election polling booth election results in the 12 local government areas so far covered.
They include Aguata, Ayamelum, Anambra East, Anambra West, Anaocha Awka North and Awka South LGAS. Others local governments which results and registers have so far been admitted include Dunukofia, Ekwusigo, Idemili North, Idemili South, Ihiala and Njikoka LGAs.
At the last but one sitting five wards out of 20 in Aguata LGA were covered, while the other 15 were tendered today along with the electron documents in 12 others.
So far a total of 2,383 used poling booth registers out of 4608 has been tendered and admitted as evidence, while a total of 2322 polling booth results, out of 4608 have been admitted.
Conspicuously missing is all voter used registers and polling booth results used in the election in respect of Otuocha Ward I ,where Chief Willie Obiano, candidate of All Progressive Grad Alliance (APGA) declared winner in the elections voted. Ngige/APC lawyers told the Tribunal today INEC failed to produce the materials with respect to Otuocha Ward I. Also not provided is Polling Unit 17, Ukpo I Ward in Dunukofia LGA.
The Tribunal had on January 04, 2014 ordered an inspection and copying of materials used by INEC TO conduct the elections should be provided to Senator Chris Ngige & APC by INEC.
The process of tendering gained speed above that of last week Thursday following the decision last week from by parties in the matter to prepare schedules of tendering of exhibits and serve in advance.
Earlier in the day the case of Dr Chike Obidigbo & APGA versus INEC,Obinao & Others was called up and stood down to enable the Tribunal attendee to the voluminous tendering of materials in the consolidated matter.
Ngige and APC who is the first of the three petitioners to tender exhibits have brought their exhibits to the Tribunal last Thursday in 40 Ghana Must Go Bags.
Tendering to conclude the remaining eight local government areas of the state,’along with other documents sought to be tendered by Senator Ngige and APC have been slated for tomorrow.
LGAs yet to be covered by the tendering process of Ngige and APC are Nnewi North, Nnewi South, Ogbaru, Onitsha North, Onitsha South Orumba North, Orumba South and Oyi.
Legal team to Ngige confirmed in an interview that notice has been served on INEC to produce the voter register and results of Obiano’s home ward in the Tribunal during in the course of the subsisting trial.
