How Anambra Tribunal receives 26 petitions , begins sitting

A total of 26 petitions have been received by the Anambra State National Assembly and State Assembly Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka, the state capital.

According to the records of the tribunal, 12 petitions were challenging the outcome of the National Assembly elections, while 14 were against the State Assembly polls.
Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Joseph Ananabo, speaking yesterday during the inaugural sitting of the tribunal, warned lawyers to parties in the cases, petitioners and respondents, as well as their supporters to conduct themselves with utmost decorum and avoid the use of any disrespectful language against one another.
The tribunal began at the expiration of the period allowed aggrieved parties in the just-concluded general elections to file their petitions at the Election Petition Tribunal as provided under the Electoral Law and Constitution of the country is over.
Meanwhile, the Anambra State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka has warned that any attempt to sway the panel into perverting the course of justice will be resisted.
The chairman of the three-member panel, Justice Joseph Aganaba, gave the warning during the tribunal’s first sitting.
Other members of the panel are Justice I.B Garba and Justice N.K Hamidu.
It was observed that four petitions were filed for the senatorial election, 12 for House of Representative election and 14 for the State Assembly elections.
Justice Aganaba said proceedings would be guided by the Electoral Act and the Constitution. The decisions of the Tribunal would be based on facts and evidence before it.
“Election matters are serious matters that cannot be treated with levity, and I wish to state that any attempt to sway us will not work.
“It is the quality of the evidence and what the constitution says that will determine who wins or loses. We shall discharge our duties in line with the constitution and the law.
“The tribunal is set up to ensure that those who won the election were elected,” Aganaba said.