Ladies and gentlemen! Let me first of all correct the false news being spread by some persons that the Court of Appeal ordered the swearing in of Dr Alex Otti. There was no such Order as the learned Justices of the Appeal Court Knew the legal implications of making such Order vis-a-vis the express provisions of the Constitution.
They couldn't have taken away our right of invoking the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. WIKE lost both at the Tribunal and at the Court of Appeal. Yet, he is still the Governor of Rivers State. I therefore urge all Gov Ikpeazu's supporters to disregard any rumor alleging that there is an ORDER to swear in Dr Alex Otti. I am aware that Dr Alex Otti himself will seek explanations on the legal implications of today's judgment and finally distance himself from the government house till the final and just determination of this matter by the Court of last RESORT.
ON THE JUDGMENT ITSELF.
I took time to listen to the judgment of the Court of Appeal. Obviously, the judgment was well detailed as it touched on almost all the issues raised by both parties.
It appears to me that the Appeal Court was right when it held that we failed to puncture the evidence of Ahamdi Nweke and concentrated on his claimed status as a legal practitioner whereas the witness- Ahamdi Nweke never SAID anywhere both in his statement on oath and under cross examination that he is a legal practitioner in Nigeria. Check my update the day Ahamdi testified! I made this observation.
2ndly, our refusal to cross examine the expert witness from INEC headquarters was suicidal, according to the Appeal Court as they held her evidence uncontroverted. This side of the judgment will be tested by the Justices of the Supreme Court.
The above positions of the CA notwithstanding, the crux of the matter lied on the purported cancellation of Obingwa, Osisioma and Isialangwa North. To everyone's surprise, the Court of Appeal upheld the first cancellation of the 3 LGs, stating that based on Sec 68 of the Electoral Act, the cancellation was final and therefore, only a Tribunal could set it aside. According to the Appeal Court, the Tribunal erred in law by upholding the election of the 3 LGs based on the correct position that the RO had no powers to cancel at that stage. The Appeal Court deprecated and/or failed to acknowledge the conclusion drawn by the Tribunal. Implicit in this decision of the CA is the fact that the RO had no powers to cancel at that stage but having canceled, only a Tribunal has powers to look into that cancellation or decision.
POSER! Is the reversal a decision of INEC? If the reversal is a decision? Is it also a final decision that only a Tribunal can look into? Why did the Appeal Court rightly observe and went ahead to turn blind eyes on an illegality perpetrated by the RO which the RO suo motu and/or upon noticing same reversed within a reasonable time?
It is also worrisome that the Appeal Court went ahead to uphold the cancellation of all the valid votes entered in favour of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu which were tendered by the Petitioners themselves.
My people, can there be an election in a State where all the eligible and accredited voters in 3 Local governments in a state are completely disenfranchised by mere act of judicial pronouncement?
Hahahahahahahaha! My people, I beg you all to laugh it off. For your information, you DONT NEED ANY PROPHET TO TELL YOU THAT TODAY's JUDGMENT WILL BE GIVEN A BEFITTING FUNERAL IN ABUJA.
My people, I beg everyone of you to remain law abiding. Go ahead and enjoy and celebrate your new year. If anybody tells you that the people of Obingwa, Osisioma and Isialangwa North are no longer part of Abia State and will therefore be denied their rights to vote for a candidate of their choice, tell that person that he or she is in a deep sleep.
HE THAT LAUGHS LAST, LAUGHS BEST!
See you all at the Supreme Court!! Ebe Ahu ka unu ga AKOTA SIGN.
RIDE ON OUR GOVERNOR!
By Ugochukwu Amaraizu Esq.
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