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From Judex Okoro, Calabar
The Cross River State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Calabar on Tuesday has upheld the election of Governor Bassey Otu, saying the petitioners case lacked merit.
The Tribunal had reserved judgment in a Suit No. EPT/CR/GOV/02/2023
seeking to oust the Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu, after adoption of counsels written addresses on August 14, 2023.
The suit was jointly instituted by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship standard bearer, Prof. Sandy Onor, and his party against the election of Senator Bassey Otu and the Deputy Governor, Rt Hon. Peter Odey of All Progressives Congress (APC).
In an unanimous judgement the Tribunal chaired by Tribunal, Justice Oken Inneh,
held that the issues of qualification of Prince Otu and dual citizenship of Rt. Hon. Peter Odey are pre-election matters and therefore status barred.
Explaining further on the issue of allegation of the Deputy Governor, Hon. Peter Odey (3rd respondent) swearing an oath of allegiance of being British citizen and therefore has dual citizenship, the Tribunal said the matter is statue barred and the petitioners did not exhibits to prove their case neither were there any averrment shown.
On the issue of party’s membership of Rt Hon Odey, the 3-man panel held that not is not justiciable in law.
According to the Panel, membership of political party is exclusively party matters and it’s a pre-election issue therefore the petitioners lacks locus standi to challenge it.
The panel, after fours judgement, unanimously dimised the petition at no cost.
