Election Tribunal Receives Eight Petitions In A’Ibom

The Akwa Ibom Election Tribunal says it has received eight petitions from aggrieved contestants in the just-concluded general elections in the state.

The Secretary of the tribunal, Mr Alaba Ariyo, told our correspondent in Uyo on Friday that one governorship petition had been filed by Mr Ibanga Sunday of the Progressive Action Congress (PAC).

Ariyo said the candidate filed the petition against the INEC and 14 others for omitting his name on the ballot paper.

He said that Dr Attai Asikpo of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) filed a petition against Sen. Aloysius Etuk of the PDP, while Mr Joseph Ukpong of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) also filed a petition against Etuk.

The secretary further revealed that there were five petitions from the House of Representatives’ candidates which came from Uruan/Nsit, Atai/Ibesikpo, Asutan, Etinan and Uyo federal constituencies.

Ariyo said that there were two tribunals in each state with one handling the governorship petitions while the other would take care of petitions from legislative elections.

“The tribunal will have its inaugural sitting on Wednesday next week and aggrieved parties have 21 days, after the declaration of the elections results, to file petitions according to the Electoral Act as amended in 2010,” Ariyo said.