The National Assembly Election petition tribunal sitting in Uyo, has ended its pre-hearing proceedings on the petition filed by former Senate Minority leader, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, ahead of proper trial.
On Friday, the Lawyer representing Akpabio, Barrister Adekunle Oyesanya accepted the submission of certified true copies of documents relating to the victory of Engr. Chris Ekpenyong in the recently concluded National Assembly election.
But, he did not accept INEC forms EC40G, which are INEC Electoral forms and reports from Adhoc staff.
However, the tribunal which expressed surprised over Oyesanya’s objections ruled that all evidences submitted by INEC has been admitted and marked accordingly.
While stressing that all counsel should resume with their most important witnesses, bearing in mind the time frame allocated to witnesses, he however noted that the report would be read before commencement of trial at the next sitting.
The tribunal adjourned to Monday, June 10, 2019, to accommodate Nigerians who would be observing their Sallah celebration.
Earlier, counsel to the first and second respondents, Engr. Chris Ekpenyong and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, without objection accepted admissibility of the documents submitted by INEC and prayed the tribunal to issue a prehearing report to mark the end of prehearing and commencement of trial.
