YPP kicks against secrecy in election appeal panel’s composition

Young Progressive Party (YPP) has raised alarm over what it said is the secret composition of members of the special panel of the Court of Appeal in the case instituted by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chris Uba, against the declaration of Ifeanyi Uba as the winner of the Anambra South Senatorial District.

The National Chairman of the party, Bishop Amakiri said at a press conference in Abuja, on Thursday, that the party “smells a rat” and has therefore called for the disclosure of the identities of the panel members.

He said the court had initially scheduled the hearing of the Appeals lodged by the PDP’s candidate against Uba’s election for October 31, 2019, before the regular panel of the Court of Appeal but had curiously changed the date to October 22, 2019, and then, to October 25, 2019.

The party boss stated: “Lawyers in the matter had to immediately rush down to Enugu from various parts of the country ahead of the hearing.

“However, at about 4pm on the said 21st of October 2019, our lawyers were informed that the hearing of the Appeals has been called off and that a special panel of Justices of the Court of Appeal would be constituted by the Honourable President of the Court of Appeal for hearing of election matters including the Appeals lodged by Chris Uba (in Appeal No. CA/EAPP/20/2019) and Senator Andy Uba (CA/EAPP/23/2019).

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“Our party has made efforts to inquire into the rationale for the abrupt change of the panel of the Court of Appeal hearing the matter to no avail.

“We have also made efforts to find out the new composition of the panel of the Court of Appeal that is being sent to hear the Appeals to no avail.

“Again, the Court of Appeal today the 23rd of October 2019 informed our lawyers that the Appeals in Appeal No. CA/EAPP/20/2019 (Chief Chris Uba v INEC) has been fixed for hearing on the 25th of October 2019.”

Amakiri maintained that YPP believes that “the composition of Courts is fundamental to the impartiality of the Court and whilst our party has implicit confidence in the judiciary including the Court of Appeal, we believe that there should be explanations for the changes in the composition of the panel of the Court of Appeal Enugu.”

He added: “In addition, we request for a full disclosure of the composition of the Special Panel of the Court of Appeal that has been constituted for the hearing of the Appeals.

“Our position is pertinent particularly in view of rumours and boasts by the supporters of the appellant that the changes in the panel of the Court of Appeal is aimed at achieving a pre-determined objective to the detriment of our party and its candidate, Senator (Dr.) Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah.”

YPP recalled that its candidate, Uba, won the 2019 Anambra South Senatorial elections which held on Saturday, February 23, 2019, in an exercise that “was widely adjudged to be free, fair and a reflection of the will of the people.”

While expressing confidence in the judiciary, the party chairman admonished that “the Court of Appeal must not allow themselves to be used by desperate power-mongers against law-abiding citizens but to ensure that their actions are backed by the dictates of the law.”