From Chuks Collins, Awka
Intense fears has gripped petitioners, supporters and political party officials who daily throng the Nov 16,2013 Anambra Governorship Election Petition tribunal presided over by Hon Justice Ishaq Bello sitting in Awka over perceived slow pace and adjournments by the panel.
The worries became more pronounced?on Monday?when the tribunal Secretary came to announce it would not sit for an undisclosed reason, after more than three hours wait by parties.
The secretary had announced, “We have the pleasure to announce to you that the Tribunal was originally reserved today for rulings. But due to some inconvenience, the Tribunal will not sit until Wednesday 19th February 2014…”
The cross-section of the members of the public and the contending parties that had turned out to witness the scheduled rulings on various Preliminary applications fixed for?Monday?by the Tribunal went away disappointed and angry when the secretary showed up to announce that there will be no sitting until Wednesday, February 19, 2014.
Eventually when much expected ruling came, it?dismissed respondent’s Motions to strike out the entire Petition, but Rules to entertain and address Motions to strike out certain sections/paragraphs of the Petition during the Pre-hearing against Petitioners’ Motions to take them at the end along with final submissions.
The different points and paragraphs are now scheduled to be heard and ruled on by the Tribunal before the main trial begins. But the danger here is the issue of 180 Days stipulated for the tribunal’s verdict.
So far, less than 130 days are now left for the Tribunal to give its verdict.
From Chuks Collins, Awka
