Tribunal Verdict: Akpabio’s Victory Is For All Nigerians – Abak Transition Chairman

The long awaited ruling of the Tribunal hearing Inibehe Okorie’s election petition against the victory of Senator Godswill Akpabio, has been delivered – and Senator Akpabio’s victory has been upheld.

Reacting to the ruling in a phone chat with publishers of Ibommobile.com, on Wednesday 14th October, the Abak Local Government Transition Committee chairman, Honourable Dr. Emmanuel Udosen described the verdict of the tribunal as not just the victory of Akwa Ibom people, but a victory for the entire country.

He stressed that Senator Akpabio is not only representing Akwa Ibom people, but as Senate Minority leader, he is a voice for all Nigerian people.

The petitioner, Inibehe Okorie had claimed that the number of votes recorded for Senator Akpabio exceeded the number of voters who were accredited, implying that there was no election in the Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial district.

The tribunal however dismissed all prayers against the Senator and went a step further, charging the petitioner a fine of N2,500 as cost to the defendant, Senator Akpabio.

Senator Akpabio’s victory at the election tribunal is the next in a series of victories recorded by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

As ruling for the Governorship petition is expected to be delivered in few days, Dr Udosen expressed assurance that as long as the tribunal has confirmed that elections held in the Senatorial districts, federal and state constituencies – contrary to the claims of the All Progressives Congress (APC) – it is easy to infer that Governor Udom Emmanuel won the governorship elections fair and square, and the anticipated ruling will affirm this actuality.