Sekibo alleges attempt to frustrate his appeal

Senator George Thompson Sekibo (Rivers East) has raised alarm on alleged attempts by some persons to deny him access to a copy of the election petitions tribunal ruling which upturned his victory in the 2016 Rivers State election re-run.

Sekibo whose election result was up turned in favour of his opponent Andrew Uchendu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) on Wednesday last week by the tribunal said efforts to get a copy of the judgement from the Tribunal has proved difficult as the judgement according to him has remained missing.

Insisting that obtaining a copy of the judgement will help his legal team to file an appeal at the appeal Court the Senator said that even the chairman of the tribunal is nowhere to be found.

“The judgement is a fundamental requirement to file my appeal and depriving me from that is against my human rights,” Sekibo said.

Although the Senator said he has nothing against the judgement as delivered by the tribunal, he insisted that a citizen of Nigeria, practicing under a democratic dispensation it is his right to appeal the judgement at the court of law.

He however expressed dismay at efforts from some individuals to frustrate him from appealing the ruling at an appellant court adding that even the chairman of the tribunal is nowhere to be seen.

It will be recalled that the Tribunal also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Sekibo and issue a fresh certificate of return to Mr. Uchendu.

The Tribunal’s decision was hinged on the fact that Mr. Uchendu won the lawful majority vote cast during the Rivers Re-run legislative election

Chris Emetoh, Abuja