Today, Friday, September 13, 2019, parties adopted their final addresses at the National and State House of Assembly Tribunal Tribunal in the Petition filed by Esse G. Umoh of the People’s Democratic Party against the purported re-election of Mr Nse Ntuen as the member representing Essien Udim state Constituency at the House of Assembly at the March 9 elections.
Recall that at the end of the elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared elections as inconclusive at the state Constituency owing to grave violence and substantial non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).
All the Respondents, Mr Nse Ntuen, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and INEC urged the court to strike out the petition. The 2nd Respondent, APC argued that the petition is pre-mature.
The Petitoners on the other hand argued that the election was inconclusive and that no winner was declared and no result announced at the election and therefore urged the court, while striking out the petition, to direct INEC to either announce the 1st Petitioner as winner of the elections or order a rerun
The court thereupon adjourned and reserved Judgement for a date to be later announced.
