Certificate forgery: Tribunal rules on APC suit August 15

The National and House of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has fixed August 15 to deliver judgement on the suit filed by the All Progressives Congress against the Peoples Democratic Party.

Mr. Eddy Julius, the senatorial candidate for the APC in the last National Assembly election conducted in Bayelsa West Senatorial District dragged his PDP rival, Senator Foster Ogola, to the tribunal alleging certificate forgery.

Julius, who is challenging the victory of Ogola in the election, is praying the court to disqualify Ogola for allegedly presenting a false certificate and to declare him the authentic winner of the poll.

When the tribunal resumed on Monday for adoption, counsel for Julius, Mr. Somina Johnbull adopted a written address he filed on July 14.

Johnbull appealed to the tribunal to grant prayers sought by his client to the effect that Ogola was not qualified to stand for the election.

He said,  “Our thrust is on non-qualification of the second respondent (Ogola). If our reliefs are granted, the petitioner (Julius), who came second, will now become the winner of the election by virtue of the doctrine of wasted votes.”

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In his position, Mr. Assimih Egbegi, lawyer for Ogola, also adopted his written addresses and urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition with substantial cost to the petitioner.

But Justice Ononeze Madu fixed August 15 for judgement on the petition.

Speaking to journalists after the sitting, the lawyer representing the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mr. Emeka Ojodile (SAN) commended the performances of all the parties to the case.

The INEC lawyer said, “It doesn’t matter which way it goes. The most important thing is that justice will be done at last.

“The tribunal has done very well and so far there hasn’t been complaints about the conduct of the tribunal members.”