By Ene Asuquo
Cross River State Governorship election petition tribunal sitting in calabar the state capital has concluded its pre-hearing and the election petition tribunal adjourned for next hearing, the 10th of July, 2023.
Shortly after the adjournment, council to the first defendant, Mike Ozakhome (SAN) in and interview with journalists disclosed that various applications by all the parties concerned in the matter, some by the petitioner, the INEC, APC, and some by the second and third defendant were withdrawn because they were over taken by event
Chief Ozakhome also disclosed that on their own as councils to the first defendant, they had moved two motions and one of them deals with striking out grounds two and three of the petition for being abuse of court process as it contravenes the provisions of the electoral act of 2022
He said in the second petition, ” we are challenging their reply to our own petition, because in their response, they were stating new grounds of petitions which were never part of the original petition filled”
He maintained that such grounds of petition under the electoral act can not be entertained, he told the tribunal that going by the provisions of sec 285 sub section 8 of the 1999 constitution, rulling of these various objections would be deferred and deliver at the time of the final judgement of the entire petitions
Council to the petitioner, Dr.Joshua Yusuf (SAN) in his interview with the press also said that all pending application were taken and then rulling reserved until the final determination of the petitions
Meanwhile, petitions would be heard on a daily basis from the next adjournment date to enable the tribunal conclude on time a position that was agreed by all the parties, the parties also pledged their full cooperation to ensure seamless prosecution of petitions and delivering judgement