Delta State Governorship Election Tribunal Of Ifeanyi Okowa Delayed As New Petitions Submitted

Newly submitted motions to the Delta State Governorship Tribunal have delayed the court proceedings on Monday in Asaba, the State capital. On Monday three new motions were filed by counselors of Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as hearings on alleged electoral misconduct were to begin again.

The court had planned on hearing opening testimony from witnesses for the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Delta State, Mr. Olorogun O’tega Emerhor.

The latest motions delaying the hearings challenged the subpoenas against some of the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) staff. Previously, the legal counsel for Mr. Emerhor subpoenaed INEC officials to be present and give testimony for the August 17th court date on their knowledge of fraudulent electoral conduct.

Reacting to Okowa’s motions, an APC leader in the State, Dr Cyril Ogodo, described them as “delay tactics and an attempt to frustrate the commencement of the trial.”

The Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Nasiru Gunmi, adjourned the trial until Thursday August 20 for a hearing of the fresh motions brought by Okowa and the State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).