The Ebonyi State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Governor David Umahi of scheming to influence the relocation of the Ebonyi State election petitions tribunal from Abuja back to Abakaliki. The PDP claims that Umahi boasted about lobbying influential judicial officers in Abuja to achieve this relocation during a public event on May 13, 2023.
The PDP urges the election petition authorities, particularly the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensen, to disregard Umahi’s actions in the interest of peace, justice, fairness, and equity. The party believes that maintaining the tribunal in Abuja will ensure a level playing field for all parties involved in the cases and was celebrated by the politically aware citizens of Ebonyi State.
The PDP also alleges that the Ebonyi State Government is notorious for orchestrating violence and terror-related acts. They argue that relocating the tribunal to Abakaliki, as purportedly boasted by Governor Umahi, would create an opportunity for impunity and terror, which should not be allowed to happen in the state.
In response, Governor Umahi’s Special Assistant on Media and Strategy, Mr. Chooks Oko, describes the allegations as unfounded, stating that such actions are not in the governor’s character. He believes it is a desperate attempt by a struggling party to create noise and find excuses.
On April 26, 2023, the Secretary of the Ebonyi State election petitions tribunal announced the directive from the President of the Court of Appeal to relocate the tribunal to Abuja, which has elicited mixed reactions from political actors.
