Iboro Ekanem floors Paul Owoh again

Hon. Iboro Ekanem

The judicial victory base of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State in the last general election has continued to swell with the dismissal of yet another petition challenging the party’s electoral victory. On Thursday, the National and State House of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal  sitting in Kubwa, Abuja dismissed a petition brought before it by Hon Paul Owoh of Accord Party challenging the  election of Hon. Iboro Ekanem as the member representing Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

In a two-and-a-half judgement delivered by its chairman, the Tribunal held that the petition was dismissed because the petitioner failed abysmally in his bid to prove his allegation of irregularities in the March 28 National Assembly election as his witnesses grossly contradicted themselves during cross-examination. She likened the election petition to the game of soccer that is won on the basis of goals scored, saying having failed to score any goal, the petitioner had failed to win the game.
She described the petitioner’s case as a bad one that only succeeded in wasting the precious time of the Tribunal and accordingly dismissed the case on account of the petitioner’s inability to prove his case beyond every reasonable doubt as required by law. She however did not award any cost against the petition.
In his reaction, the first respondent, Hon Iboro Ekanem described the judgement as victory for democracy and a vindication of the collective mandate that the people of Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency gave him at the poll. He hailed the judiciary for maintaining its age-long identity as the last hope of the common man as seen in its upholding the electoral will of Ntippe Ibibio people. He called on the petitioner in the case and any other person who still feels aggrieved at his emergence to sheathe their swords and join hands with him in moving Ikono/Ini federal constituency forward, promising to work with everyone in administering the people’s mandate.
Also speaking, the first respondent’s lead counsel, Bar. Goddy Umoh thanked the Tribunal for doing a thorough job on the case and delivering a judgement  that is in tandem with both law and justice. The first respondent’s legal team also had Bar. O. B. Akpan, Bar Uko Akpanuko and Barr Imaobong Inyangmme.
Efforts to speak to the petitioner’s counsel failed as he hurriedly left the Court premises immediately after the judgement. It could be recalled that Hon Iboro Ekanem defeated Hon Paul Owoh of Accord Party and Bar Imo Akpan of the All Progressives Congress at the March 28 polls. Both the Accord Party and APC candidates had approached the Tribunal alleging irregularities at the poll and calling for its cancellation. With this judgment, barring an appeal by the Accord Party candidate, Hon Iboro Ekanem is left with the petition brought against him by the APC candidate on which judgement is expected soon.