Tribunal upholds election of Akwa Ibom governor

The governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital, on Thursday affirmed the victory of Udom Emmanuel, governor of the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Emmanuel, who contested the March 9 election under the Peoples Democratic Party, winner of the exercise but Nsima Ekere, his All Progressives Congress (APC) rivak, filed a petition challenging his victory.

Delivering judgment, the three-member tribunal headed by A.M Yakuba, dismissed the case filed by APC and its candidate on the grounds that the petition lacked merit.

Yakubu held that the petitioners failed to call witnesses in eight local government areas out of the 21 where they claimed to have won.

Consequently, tribunal discountenance every documentary evidence that was brought before it.

Tribunal accordingly declared Emmamuel as the duly elected governor of Akwa Ibom.