Imo guber battle: Okorocha’s men protest as Appeal Court fixes Jan 5 for hearing

Imo state Governor Rochas Okorocha

The Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, Imo State capital yesterday fixed January 5, 2012 for commencement of hearing on the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, challenging the verdict of the state election petition tribunal, which upheld the election of Governor Rochas Okorocha of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The party (PDP) is also challenging the constitutionality and legality of the May 6 supplementary election held in four local government areas of the state and Orji in the Owerri North Council Area. Chairman of the Appeal panel, Justice Tijani Abubakar, stated that the appellate court would not dilly dally in respect of the ruling, since the case would be time barred after January 11, 2012.

He enjoined the parties to tidy up their work and shun acts and conducts that could distract the court. The court had earlier granted the application filed by the INEC for extension of time to enable it file its brief in the appeal and since the brief was already filed at the session.

The appellant was, therefore, given three days to reply the brief filed by the INEC on point of law while the court is to take hearing from all the parties in January unfailingly to beat the deadline.
Another reason why the case which was to be heard by a five – member panel headed by Justice Abdulahi was adjourned till January 5, was to allow the panel handle cases which may become time-barred by the end of December, 2011.

Although, supporters of both the PDP and Okorocha’s party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) trooped the premises of the Court of Appeal, Owerri division with enthusiasm, one incident that took everybody by surprise was the sight of placard –carrying youths who lined up at the entrance of the court premises exhibiting their instruments of protest majority of which carried anti-PDP inscriptions like, “Ohakim is a Rogue”, “Ohakim cannot Rule Imo again”, “ Ohakim is 419”, ‘Ohakim, you’re a devil, we don’t want you’, ‘To hell with Ohakim’, ‘PDP, leave Owelle alone, he is our man’, ‘Rescue Mission is in progress’.

There were also a few others targeted at a female member of the panel, Justice Chidi Uwa. Some of the placards read: “Justice Uwa wants to kill our Rescue Mission”, “Justice Uwa wants to stop our road projects”, “Justice Uwa Must go”, “Justice Uwa is anti-Imo State” etc.

Some people who were at the court to witness the hearing expressed surprise at the development stressing that that was the first time any person or persons in the state would be protesting against judicial officers adjucating on election matters in the state.

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