Tribunal decides Abia gov’s fate today

From Niyi Adebimpe and Biola Azeez - 25.02.2008

PALPABLE fear and anxiety have pervaded the entire atmosphere in Abia State as the election petition tribunal sitting in Umuahia, the state capital, rules on a petition arising from the 2007 governorship election in the state today.

The legal battle over the petition brought before the tribunal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, against the result of the April 14 governorship election in the state had lingered over the past few months.

Though, the Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA) governorship candidate, Chief Theodore Orji, had been declared the winner of the election and consequently sworn in as governor, his legal team and that of Chief Ugochukwu had been advancing arguments and counter-arguments in support of their claims before the tribunal.

The anxiety pervading the state over the ruling of the tribunal today was also said to have been more heightened and noticeable within the rank and file of the supporters of the two warring camps in the state and beyond even in foreign countries.

The governor’s camp exudes confidence, insisting that Orji’s victory was divine. It also claimed that Governor Orji won the governorship election while in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detention.

The governor’s campaign train, which was led by his wife, Mrs. Mercy Orji, and the present deputy governor, Mr. Chris Akomas, traversed the 17 local government areas of the state, without the the governor, who was then detained by the EFCC for money laundering.

Also, supporters of the PDP candidate on the other hand believe that the tribunal will eventually declare their candidate the winner of the election.