Umana VS Udom: Tribunal orders INEC to release election materials for forensic screening

Chief Victor Iyanam addressing reporters at the tribunal venue in Uyo

By Ukpong UKPONG

The Chairman of Governorship Election Tribunal in Akwa Ibom State, Justice Goddy Anunihe, earlier today, ordered the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, in the state to immediately handover all materials including Permanent Voter Card (PVC) Readers printouts and all other materials used during the just concluded Governorship Election for forensic inspection.

This was the second prayer granted by Justice Goddy Anunihe, who single handedly commenced pre-hearing proceedings in the case between Umana Okon Umana (Petitioner) and Udom Gabriel Emmanuel (1st Respondent), Independent National Electoral Commission (2nd Respondent )and Peoples Democratic Party (3rd Respondent) .

Umana Okon Umana, was represented by Barristers Victor Iyanam, Udonsek, T., Joe Ukpong, Effiong Oquong and others.

The first prayer, according to Iyanam, who led the legal team, was for the tribunal to grant relief for substituted service upon the first respondent, who recently swore affidavit denying being served a notice of the legal action.

“We are reliably informed that several attempts by the court bailiff to serve the first respondent in person have been unsuccessful and given the voluminous nature of the notice, publishing them on pages of newspapers is not feasible. Therefore, we ask the Tribunal to grant an order for substituted service on the first respondent”, he pleaded.

Responding, Anunihe noted that although his colleagues were yet to arrive the state, he is empowered by Section 27(1) of the 2010 Electoral Law (as amended) to unilaterally commence pre-hearing proceedings in their absence. He thereafter order the bailiff to paste the notice of service on Udom's residential gate, his entrance door or any other conspicuous area in his home and adjourned the case to a later date.

The other case was between Helen Udoaka Esuene (Petitioner) and Udom Gabriel Emmanuel (1st Respondent), Independent National Electoral Commission (2nd Respondent) and Peoples Democratic Party (3rd Respondent). Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom State Sanitation Court Complex, Uyo, venue of the tribunal, was unusually quiet without the bustling crowds of supporters that normally grace such momentous events.

Culled from Ibom Democrat newspaper