BY: RALPH EJIMKONYE
The ongoing legal fireworks at Imo State Election Petition Tribunal, Owerri has indeed unsettled the big political players in the State.
In the last one month, almost all the major actors who took part in the governorship election in the State have showed face at the proceedings of the Tribunal.
Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, was the first to testify in one of the sessions.
Araraume is one of those who opposed the outcome of the election and believes he was shortchanged. Though he placed a distant third in the polls but he has turned in tons of evidence to prove his case.
Next to appear at the Tribunal was Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance, AA. He had led a handful of witnesses to also testify at one of the court proceedings. He believes Ihedioha who was declared winner of the governorship election by INEC was done so in error
The big appearance was the Governor, Hon.Emeka Ihedioha, who made a surprise visit to the venue of the sittings. He is yet to open his defence.
Analysts contend that the appearance of these political gladiators at the Election Petition Tribunal underscore the seriousness of the ongoing legal fireworks which has trailed the governorship election.
Mr.Chuks Okere, a political analyst who has been monitoring events at the Tribunal said”The ongoing cases is already unsettling the active players who took part in the polls.
“Both the antagonists and protagonists are expectant of justice. It depends on how favourable it will be to them. That is why the Governor, his opponents, Araraume, Uche Nwosu and Senator Hope Uzodinma have all showed up.
Governor Emeka Ihedioha is facing a three pronged legal battle from Senator Araraume, Senator Hope Uzodinma and Uche Nwosu, governorship candidates of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, All Progressive Congress, APC and Action Alliance, AA.
The trio are challenging the outcome of the governorship polls. The Tribunal has mandatory 180 days to wind up its activities and deliver judgement.
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