Date Published: 03/28/10

Editor Sir,

Suit to stop Obi's swearing-in was unnecessary

It was unnecessary the action that was instituted at the Anambra Governorship Election Tribunal by the deputy governorship candidate of Hope Democratic Party in the February 6 Anambra elections, Mr. Mike Okoye. He aimed at stopping the swearing-in of Governor Peter Obi who was declared winner by the INEC. Though Okoye tried belatedly to withdraw the case, the Tribunal nevertheless carried on with the matter and gave it the knock it deserved.

The only right thing Okoye should have done was put his grievances against the conduct and outcome of the election and leave the matter to be handled by the inaugurated Election Tribunal. After all, during the 2003 elections, Dr. Chris Ngige was declared the winner by the same INEC as the governor while Obi got justice at last; Obi never tried to disrupt the swearing-in of Dr. Ngige.

It is a fact that the election of February was with a forced peace because of the presence of the military and police personnel, its outcome as regards disenfranchisement of voters etc was enough ground for him to approach the Election Tribunal to plead his case as to show that outcome of the election calls for question. These are matters that the Tribunal is capable of handling and the right ruling given. If it goes right, at the end it is likely to be a matter of run-off (repeat) election; but this has to be established first at the Tribunal or Appeal level.

As it stands, it may not yet be the dawn Obi wished. He may be occupying the seat temporarily. Time shall tell.

Mr. Vincent Ozojiri, 1345 Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway, ABA