The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Uyo, on Thursday, affirmed the victory of Governor Udom Emmanuel of the Peoples Democratic Party in the March 9 general elections.
Mr Nsima Ekere of the All Progressives Congress (APC) filed a petition challenging the result of the March 9 election in which INEC declared the re-election of Emmanuel as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
Delivering judgement, the three-member tribunal headed by Justice A.M Yakuba, dismissed the case filed by APC and its candidate, Mr Nsima Ekere, on grounds that the petition lacked merit.
Justice Yakubu held that the petitioners failed to call witnesses in eight local government areas out of the 21 where they claimed to have won.
Consequently, tribunal discountenance every documentary evidence that were brought before it.
The tribunal accordingly declared Emmamuel as the duly elected governor of Akwa Ibom.
The petitioners approached the tribunal, after several amendments on grounds that the election was invalid by reason of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act,
They also argued that Emmanuel was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the election.
They prayed the tribunal to declare that Emmanuel did not secure and could not have secured majority of lawful votes cast at the elections;
They also prayed the tribunal to declare that the election was void and invalid due to non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
