The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, has shut down the Ebonyi Election Petition Tribunal.
The 2023 elections in Nigeria were held between February and March. But supplementary elections were held in April.
However, to settle persons and parties who are not satisfied with the election results, election tribunals have been set up across several states.
Like other states, Ebonyi state has its Election Petition Tribunal in the state.
However, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, has shut down the Ebonyi Elections Petition Tribunal in Abakaliki
She directs that the Tribunal be relocated to Abuja immediately.
According to her, all processes relating to matters before the Tribunal will continue in Abuja.
However, this ruling did not go down well with several people including the Ebonyi youth group, operating under the auspices of Unwuekunenyi United Youths Forum.
Protest
The Ebonyi youth group at a press conference in Abakaliki, protested against the directive of the president of the Appeal Court.
According to the group, hardship on the people and lack of funds to mobilise both human and material resources to the nation’s capital would affect the Tribunal.
Also, they said there was no basis for such relocation.
“We frown at the decision to relocate the Ebonyi State Election Petition Tribunal at the instance of the PDP gubernatorial candidate,” says the national president of the group, Prince Uche Ega.
He expresses concern that “there is bias of prejudice, in granting one party the preference of choosing a venue” outside the state.
Also Read About The crisis In Ibadan: Residents Lament As Traders Occupy Roads
“Furthermore, the panel of judges in the Ebonyi State Election Petition Tribunal was never under any pressure of threat, attack, or any other danger.
“Neither was any party or persons to the post-election litigation being pressured, intimidated, or attacked as to warrant the relocation of the Tribunal from Abakaliki to the FCT.
Furthermore, he notes that “the cost of transportation to Abuja is high” and the security situation of the route to Abuja from Ebonyi is dangerous”.
Therefore, the group is kicking against the relocation to Abuja. They are asking that it should be brought back to the state.
