Tribunal Receives 25 Petitions

The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia says it has received 25 petitions.

Mrs. Josephine Ekperobe, the secretary of the tribunal, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that five of the petitions were for the governorship, while the remaining were for the National and state Assembly polls.

APGA and Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), which came second and third respectively in the April 26 polls, had been seen at the High Court premises tiding up their petitions.

NAN reports that 21-day window allowed by law for the filing of petitions in the governorship and state Assembly elections expired on Wednesday.

Others political parties and their defeated candidates that had filed their petitions included the Labour Party, CPC and DFPF.

The governorship candidates of APGA, Chief Reagan Ufomba; LP, Rep. Stanley Ohajuruka and PPA, Chief Chris Akomas, are seeking the nullification of the election in the state.

They want the tribunal to declare that the entire poll was marred by harassment and intimidation of the opposition.

NAN recalls that the PDP candidate, incumbent Gov. Theodore Orji, won the election.