Tension as residents await Tribunal judgment

                                                          
A palpable trepidation is rife in the firmament of Enugu State as the three-man National Assembly Tribunal sitting in Enugu, last Friday, closed hearing on the petition brought before it by former governor Chimaroke Nnamani,candidate of the Peoples Democratic Change,PDC, for Enugu-East senatorial district.

The tribunal, headed by Justice M.O. Adewara gave parties to the suit, first respondent,Senator Gil Nnaji, the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, and Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC,September 28,for adoption of addresses to enable them deliver judgment before  October 13.

Nnamani is challenging the declaration by INEC of Senator Nnaji as winner in the  March 28  polls.

The declaration elicited protests in Enugu metropolis.

However, Counsel to the petitioner,Mr. O. Jolaawo, alleged before the tribunal that the candidate of the PDP, Sen. Nnaji, rigged the election.

Jolaawo made the allegation during the cross examination of the PDP witness, Mr. Okechukwu Edeh, who was the party’s collation agent in Enugu-South Local Government Area.

He said that 25,093 voters were accredited for the election but that 32,056 voted, adding that election results in some wards were mutilated without official endorsement.

“In some wards in Awkunanaw West, the number of issued ballot papers was less than the used ballot papers.

“In Ward 9, some 234 voters were accredited but 400 ballot papers were issued. In the end, both used and unused ballot papers were only 200 and the remaining could not be accounted for,” he said.