DENNIS UDOMA, Uyo
The election of the Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. (Hon.) Aniekan Uko hit a brick-wall on Tuesday following an Appeal Court judgment in Abuja, that nullified the election of the Speaker as the representative of Ibesikpo-Asutan State constituency in the House of Assembly.
Uko, who stood for the election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to represent Ibesikpo/Asutan in AKHA, was challenged by his rival, Mr. Gabriel Akpan, of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
But Hon. Uko who reacted swiftly in an interview with our Correspondent on the telephone after the ruling in Abuja expressed the hope that he would still win the re-run election in his area judging from the support given to election in the aborted election.
“Yes, it is true that my election has been nullified. What is left for us now is to go out to the field and win the election again because my people gave me the mandate and I still believe that they are out there waiting for me to come back,” Uko said.
The APC challenger, Mr. Gabriel expressed appreciation to the Appeal Court for the judgment saying, before now justice was delayed. He maintained that when the case was earlier presented before the tribunal, instead of the tribunal looking at the document; it said that his documents were filed out of time.
According to Gabriel, the tribunal had said that he filed the documents a day after the 21 days ultimatum demanded by the tribunal. He added that the tribunal then added 11, the day the election was conducted instead of starting from 12. He explained that the situation accounted for why the tribunal struck out the case.
“So, when I went to the Court of Appeal, the court had to look at those documents; even I myself tendered 118 documents to backup my evidence. And when they looked at those documents, they nullified the election in my constituency.
“For the rerun election, I am very much prepared for it, even if it were going to be conducted tomorrow, I will be victorious. The time for impunity has gone,” he said.
Meanwhile, APC supporters have hailed the decision of the Appeal Court saying that with the judgment the hope of the common man has been proven.
Speaking to this reporter, Prince Iboro Ekpo said, justice has come the way of a common man and thanked the judiciary for fairness in its ruling.
He however called on the people of the state not to lose hope in APC adding that they should continue to show passion and uprightness in their belief and loyalty as the darkn days are over.
Previous Next
