The APC chairman in Akwa Ibom, Ini Okopido, addressed a press conference on Saturday in Uyo. He said the chairman of the tribunal, Jennifer Ijohor, is the wife of the secretary to the Benue government – a Peoples Democratic Party -controlled government – and therefore “cannot discharge her duties as objectively as we would expect”.
Mr Okopido made reference to how the President of the Court of Appeal, Zainab Bulkachuwa, recused herself from presiding or being a member of the presidential election petition tribunal because of the election of her husband as a senator.“We are similarly calling on Hon. Justice Ijohor to immediately resign from further presiding over the Election Petition Tribunal in Akwa Ibom State,” Mr Okopido said.
“In his various statements and public communication, Henry has indicated more than a passing interest in the petitions filed at the various tribunals, particularly those in Akwa Ibom and Rivers State. “The petitions Hon. Justice Jennifer Ijohor is called upon to preside over and adjudicate upon are essentially between our Party, the APC and the PDP.“If these scenarios which we outlined above do not present a clear case of bias and conflict of interest, we wonder what does. We have requested that she be removed from the Panel for the above reasons, and a new Chairman appointed.”
Ini Ememobong, the PDP spokesperson in Akwa Ibom, who issued a statement on behalf of its party, said, “The APC is blaming the judge for their woes. “So if the rulings of the tribunal is against the APC, it is not the position of the judge complained about, but either the unanimous decision or majority decision of the panel. The APC cannot seek to rely on the Bulkachuwa scenario in making its ill-intentioned application because the two scenarios can be clearly distinguished.
Why? He's not dancing to their tune?
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