The Court of Appeal sitting in Calabar, Cross River State capital, has delivered sixteen judgments emanated from aggrieved candidates, who contested the February 23rd National Assembly and Governorship elections in the state.
The delivering of the judgments, which commenced from 5.05pm on Saturday, lasted for over two hours with Hon Justice T. Abubakar, Hon Justice P. O. Elechi and Hon Justice A. A. Wambai unanimously affirming 14 cases earlier delivered by the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal on September 4th 2019.
In the case of INEC verses Rt Hon John Gaul Lebo, former Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly and three others, the Appeal Court said, “Appellant appealed against the decision of the tribunal delivered on the 4th September 2019 and the petition succeed in parts.
“That the respondent was not qualified to contest the election, that the decision of the tribunal declaring that the 1st respondent won the election be and hereby set aside” and the three-man Court ordered for fresh elections to be conducted in Ekureku ward 1 and 11 within 90 days from the date of the judgement.
Similar decision was taken in a case between APC and other verses Rt Hon John Gaul Lebo and 2 others. The Court ordered for fresh elections in Ekureku ward 1 and 11.
The Court of Appeal, however, affirmed the decision of the lower tribunal in fourteen other cases saying “The consequence of the foregoing is that the appellant in the appeal berate a singular of merit, it therefore deserves to be and is hereby dismissed.
“The decision of the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Calabar delivered on the 4th September 2019 in the petition is hereby affirmed,” the Justices stated.
The other fourteen cases affirmed by the court of appeal were; Charles Ikpi Eni and another verses Ofem Nelson and two others, Hon Mkpanam Obo-Bassey Ekpo VS Daniel Effiong Asuquo, Apostle Godwin Ukanupong and Another VS Godwin E. Akwaji & 3 ors.
Senator Victor Ndoma Egba vs Ntufam Sandy Ojangonor, Wabilly Nyiam vs Oko-Rose Okojie, Hon Bassey Effiom Asuquo vs Hon Elizabeth Edem Ironbar, Bar Sabastine Ubua Anyia vs Hon Virginia Itam, Akiba Bassey Ekpenyong vs RT Hon Eta Mbora.