Tension brew as Senator Onor closes case against Otu in election petition tribunal

There is unease in Cross River as citizens are sceptical that the Bayelsa state scenario of November 16, 2019 where the Supreme Court upturned APC Governor Elect of Bayelsa State, Mr. David Lyon who was barely 24 hours to his Inauguration was sacked by a 5 member panel of the apex Court led by Justice Mary Odili on the grounds that his deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo presented false information to INEC. The Court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately declare the party with the highest number of lawful votes and geographical spread the winner of the election.

This is premised on the closure of case by Senator Sandy Onor against Governor Bassey Otu in the elections petition tribunal in Cross River where he is challenging the qualification of the governor and his deputy.

During the proceeding, the petitioners presented documents to the tribunal including the British Nationality Act 1981, Citizenship Oath/Pledge, Home Office form AN4 – Application for Naturalization as a British Citizen and the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Pat of 2002 held by Pt. Han. Peter Odey, the deputy to Governor Otu.

But during examination, Olusegun Thompson, an expert in Immigration Law gave an expert opinion on the British Citizenship of Rt. Hon. Odey, the third respondent which he adopted on Oath through his form Ecq, but to his knowledge as claimed by Hon. Odey, nobody has ever been granted that waiver.

On his part, a witness to the Petitioners, Ikpi Ubana, PDP said Rt. Hon. Odey is still in the PDP and has not tendered any resignation.

The chairman of the tribunal, Justice Oken Inneh, subsequently fixed July 17-20 for the respondents to open and close it’s case.

Senator Sandy Onor is in court Challenging the declaration of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Bassey Otu and his deputy Rt. Hon Peter Odey as the winner of the governorship election held on March 18, 2023

Counsel for the respondents and others, Kimasuade Edum, SAN held brief for the lead Counsel Prof. Mike Ozekhome SAN, saying the petitioners have ten days to call their witnesses but Since they have closed their case, they need some time also to gather their witnesses.

K.O· Balogun is Counsel to INEC while Senator Sandy Onor was represented by his Counsel Dr. Joshua Yusuef, SAN who called four witnesses including a London based immigration expert, Olusegun Thompson.

By: Achibonng Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)