Uneasy calm in Abia - As tribunal removes gov - Replaces him with Ugochukwu, PDP candidate

Biola Azeez, Taiwo Adisa and Niyi Adebimpe - 26.02.2008

Uneasy calm appeared to have enveloped the entire atmosphere in Abia State following Monday’s ruling of the election petition tribunal in the state which nullified the election of Governor Theodore Orji.

Nigerian Tribune checks revealed that though there was no record of disturbance or public protest over the ruling as many people were seen going about their business unmolested, the police, to forestall any crisis, deployed additional members of the force to strategic locations within the state.

It was also observed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its supporters and even the government candidate, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, did not than roll out drums to celebrate its victory over the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA).

The election petition tribunal sitting in Umuahia had on Monday declared Ugochukwu and his deputy governorship candidate, Chief Chinwe Nwanganga, as the winners of the April 14, 2007 governorship election in Abia State, having disqualified Governor Orji and his deputy.

Delivering the judgment which lasted over two hours on Monday, the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Abdulahi Yusuf, declared that Governor Orji and his deputy, Comrade Chris Akomas, did not resign their appointments as Chief of Staff and Commissioner for Lands and Survey, respectively, 30 days before the day of the election as stated by the constitution.

The tribunal held that no admissible evidence was tendered or copies made to the tribunal to prove that the governor and his deputy resigned their appointments, adding that the letter of resignation tendered by the deputy governor alone was an afterthought.

The day of judgement was characterised by a heavy presence of security operatives who cordoned off major roads leading to the tribunal premises, with armoured personnel cars stationed in front of the courtroom.

The court room was already filled to capacity as early as 6.30 a.m as people and journalists were screened before being allowed entry.

Meanwhile, Governor Orji has said that he would appeal the judgment.

At a press briefing shortly after the judgment was delivered, the governor said that he respected the decision of the tribunal on the matter, but would proved the claim of non resignation as was stated by the tribunal at the appellate court.

He reiterated that he had never at any point in time belonged to any secret society anywhere in the world.

The governor, who said he was vindicated that the tribunal held that he won the election, and that it was not marred by irregularities, said he remained the governor until the appellate court decided.

In his own reaction, Ugochukwu said he won and thanked God and the people of the state for staying with him throughout the struggle.

He said the victory was not only for him, but for the PDP and the Abia people.

He said he was still committed to rebuilding the state and extended his hands of fellowship and olive branch to Governor Orji, who he described as his brother.

Meanwhile, the national headquarters of the PDP was in a jubilant mood on Monday over the judgment by the Abia state election petition tribunal which nullified the victory of Governor Theodore Orji.

Officials at the office went wild in jubilation as soon as the news of the victory of Chief Onyema Ugochukwu hit the airwaves, prompting most of them to converge on the office of the national chairman for celebration.

It was the first time that the PDP had obtained victory at the tribunal at the state level while it had so far lost the petitions against its governors in Kogi, Anambra, Adamawa and Kebbi states.

Honourable Bayo Alao said the party was happy about the tribunal judgment in Abia State, describing the turn of events as a vindication of the victories obtained by the party across the federation.

He said the attention of the world had been on PDP because of its status as the largest party in Africa and as a party with an intimidating strength.