Ayade, Onor, Ewa, Emil, others head for Appeal Court to battle opponents, as PFN sues for peace

By Ndifreke BASSEY Jnr

The legal battle for the governorship, National and State House of Assembly seats have shifted to Appeal Court as former Governor Ben Ayade, Prof. Sandy Onor, Hon. Bassey Eko Ewah and Jude Ngaji have challenged the judgment of the various Tribunals.

Others who have disagreed with Tribunal judgment and sought redress at higher court include Bar. Attah Ochinke, Jude Ngaji and Mrs. Rita Ayim.

Recall that Governorship Election Petition Tribunal by Justice Oken Inneh had upheld the election of Governor Bassey Otu, saying the petitioners’ case lacked merit.

Ben Ayade

The Tribunal in a Suit No. EPT/CR/GOV/02/2023 and in an unanimous judgment, held that the issues of qualification of Prince Otu and dual citizenship of Rt. Hon. Peter Odey are pre-election matters and therefore status barred and subsequently dismissed the case at no cost. Shortly after the judgment the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Sandy Onor, expressed dissatisfaction at the tribunal judgment and headed for Appeal Court 

Also, there is legal fireworks in the central senatorial district as Bassey Ewa and Attah Ochinke all of PDP have rejected the Tribunal outcome and challenged their opponents Sen. William Eteng Jonas and Hon. Victor Abang (Ikom/Boki federal constituency) respectively.

The National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal headed by Justice O. A. Adeniyi upheld the election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate, Senator Eteng Jonas Williams. Similarly, Justice Musa Sambo struck out the petition of Attah Ochinke of PDP against Rep Victor Abang, Ikom/Boki federal constituency challenging his victory at the polls on grounds that it lacked merit, saying they failed to plead BVAS and other relevant documents to prove their allegations of electoral malpractice.

At the North North senatorial district, former Governor Ben Ayade and Hon. Jude Ngaij are not resting on their oars as they have headed for Appeal. Delivering judgment, the National Assembly Election Petitions in Suit No. EPT/CR/SEN/02/2023 and headed by Justice M. A. Sambo with C. Akabua and J. Zululu as members, declared Sen. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe as the winner of the February 25, senatorial district and dismissed former Governor Ben Ayade's petition for lack of merit. Sambo, said the petitioners (Ayade and APC) failed to prove their case substantially and dismissed all their petitions, adding, “there were no credible evidences tendered before the Court to prove that the elections were fraught with malpractices.” And dissatisfied with the panel judgment, Ayade ordered his counsel to proceed to Appeal Court in an attempt to reclaim his "mandate."

Sandy Onor

Also delivering judgment in the case No. EPT/CA/HR/02/2023, the Tribunal, headed by Justice M. A. Adeniyi, said Jude Ngaji failed to prove the allegations and the issues set out in the petition have been resolved against them and subsequently declared Godwin Offiono of PDP winner by a unanimous decision. But Jude Ngaji went to Appeal asking for the invalidation of the February 25 National Assembly elections on grounds of corrupt practices and non- compliance with the provisions of the electoral act.

Calling on the petitioners in the elections in the state to sheathe their swords, the Cross River State Chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Apostle Trinity Ogar, who doubles as the Lead Pastor in Goldcity Gospel Ministry International, Calabar, said the petitioners should rather join hands with the governor and build a beautiful state.

Trinity Ogar (PFN Chairman CRS)

Ogar said: "I solicit that Cross Riverians who are not happy with the judgment should sheathe their swords and join hands to build a beautiful state.

"Even if another candidate wins, he is not 100% perfect and may be good in one aspect and bad in another aspect. We should look at the governor's strong aspects. No state can have two governors at the same time and neither would Prince Otu be the last governor. 

"We are prayerful to God who gives power and whoever will take over from Prince Otu will do so when it's his time and no mortal man will stop him."