Date Published: 09/08/11

Tribunal throws out petition against Senator Enang’s election

The National and State Assemblies Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting in Uyo has upheld the election of Sen. Ita Enang representing Uyo Senatorial District.

The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ali Garba, on Thursday in Uyo dismissed the petition filed by Mr Nsima Umoh of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) challenging the victory  Enang of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Garba ruled that the petition lacked merit as the petitioner did not file his pre hearing notice within the stipulated period.

He  noted that the petitioner violated paragraph 18 sub 1 of the 2010 first schedule of the Electoral Act as amended. Umoh, the ACN candidate in the April 16, 2011 general elections had filed a suit  challenging the re run of Enang as the senator representing Uyo Senatorial District. The counsel to the ACN candidate, Mr Mfon Peters, however, berated the ruling of the election petitions tribunal.

Peters said that  his client would challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal, adding that he filed all the applications on notice  as required of him within the specified time.“We must test the credibility of the judgment  and we hope to get the best at the appellate court,” he said.

In his comments, Enang said the victory was not for him alone but for the entire people of Uyo senatorial zone and his brother Nsima Umoh.“The court has dismissed the petition filed against me but what I am going to do is to approach all the parties involved so that we can build the community together.”