Tribunal dismisses Ihedioha’s petition against Okorocha

The governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Owerri on Wednesday struck out the petition of Emeka Ihedioha, PDP governorship candidate of Imo state in the April 11 election.

The ribunal dismissed the case on grounds that it was filed out of time.

Ihedioha is challenging the victory of Rochas Okorocha, governor of the state, in the April 11 election.

After consideration of the arguments by both counsels, David Wyon, chairman of the tribunal, held that the petition was filed out of time.

Akintola Adeniyi, Okorocha’s counsel, had argued that the petitioner failed to pay his necessary fees on the day he approached the tribunal, which amounted to making the petition time barred.

He said the petition was filed on June 23, while the fees were paid after the stipulated time.

Adeniyi submitted that since the filing was out of time and the fees paid after stipulated time, the panel had no right to hear the petition.

He, therefore, urged the panel to strike out the petition based on the issues he had raised before the panel.

Mike Ahamba, counsel to Ihedioha, countered Adeniyi’s argument, saying the fees were paid as at when due.

Ahamba urged the panel to disregard the motion challenging the petition, adding that the respondent’s counsel was only trying to buy time.