Court of Appeal to decide Andy Uba, Chris, Ifeanyi Ubah fates

The Court of Appeal is to decide the fate of the petitions and respondence filed by the trio of Sen Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC), his younger brother Chris Uba of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Dr Ifeanyi Ubah the winner of the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly Election for Anambra South Senatorial District.

The two brothers had approached the Election Petitions Tribunal challenging the victory of Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Democratic Party (YPP) praying that the declaration be set aside.

At the tribunal 3 Awka on Wednesday, counsel for Chris Uba Mr G.E Igbokwe filed a motion for the consolidation of the two petitions against Ifeanyi Ubah on the grounds that they are similar matters concerning the same election.

But the Chairman of the tribunal, however, turned down his prayers on the grounds that none of the three tribunal panels have the right to consolidate the Petitions or even assign cases but only the Appeal Court.

He further ruled that even the prayer of counsel to Ifeanyi Ubah, Mr DC Dem Nwigwe for the striking out of the petition filed by Chris Uba cannot be determined unless the issue of consolidation is determined by the Appeal Court.

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Application for the striking out of the petition should wait for the consolidation and we cannot talk of consolidation without the Appeal Court. They are those that assign cases in the case of consolidation.

“The Court of Appeal said that the lawyer should write a letter in the case of consolidation and we have tribunals here and now has the right to consolidate any case.”

The matter was however adjourned to the 31st of May, 2019 pending the decision of the Appeal Court.

Tribunal Secretary, Falilat Orire was also approached by scores of journalists for the names of the three tribunal panels but she refused, explaining that she was ordered not to disclose the names of the Judges.

She contended that she has not been asked by her bosses to make public the names of the tribunal Judges and asked the reporters to write a letter to her bosses for the names to be made available to them and if the request is granted she would comply.