Petitioners and defendants in Election Petition Tribunals in Ebonyi and Rivers states are going to argue their cases in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, directed that the Election Petitions Tribunals be relocated to Abuja immediately. The decision may not be unconnected with security challenges in the two states. Last week, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former President of the Nigeria Bar Association ( NBA) Mr. Okey Wali was kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

The Secretary of the tribunal in Ebonyi state, Nyior Sekulla, who confirmed this in Abakaliki on Wednesday said the tribunal office at the Ebonyi Judiciary Headquarters in Abakaliki had been shut down, following the directive.

According to him, all processes relating to matters before the tribunal would continue in Abuja.

“In compliance with the HPCA directives, the petitioners, counsel to parties and general public is hereby informed via this medium that the EPT sitting here in Abakaliki thereby cease to operate in Abakaliki.

“Therefore, in compliance with the HPCA directives, the petitioners, Counsel to parties and general public is hereby informed via this medium that the EPT sitting in Abakaliki thereby cease operate in Ebonyi at April 26.

“Filings of processes, taking of proceedings among other, shall henceforth continue at Abuja. Our contact remains same for further enquiries please,” the statement read.

But, the relocation from Port Harcourt to Abuja is already generating heated arguments among political parties in Rivers state. Sources claim the relocation may not be unconnected with security challenges in both Ebonyi and Rivers states where a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Okey Wali was kidnapped last week.

The source, “Yes, it is true we are moving to Abuja hopefully by next week. It is the reason for insecurity mainly, particularly the recent kidnap of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Okey Wali.

“The incident that took place at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Port Harcourt by some political parties also came up.

“So the office (tribunal) feels that we don’t need to take any chances because life is very precious”, a source in the Tribunal said.

The relocation is coming two weeks after the tribunal started receiving petitions from different political parties and candidates in the state with 76 petitions so far received challenging the elections won by the Peoples Democratic Party.

While the All Progressives Congress (APC) said the relocation is cheering to its members, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) said it was inconsequential.

The spokesman of the state APC 2023 Governorship Campaign Council, Sogbeye Eli, said it will check the rascality of the ruling party in the state.

Eli said :“This is not the first time it has happened. For us, it is allowing the principles of justice to come to play. You know under our laws, justice must be seen to be done.

“And one of the ways to ensure that justice is done is to allow for a free and unfettered administration of justice.

“Witnesses coming to testify must be at absolute liberty without any fear of intimidation, threat or harassment.

“Lawyers who will participate in the trial must have the liberty to canvass their arguments from the bar. The judges who are sitting in the tribunal must have the unfettered liberty to exercise justice following the law.”

But the spokesperson of the PDP in the state, Sydney Gbara, said the party has nothing to fear because it won the 2023 elections convincingly.

His words: “The relocation of the tribunal to Abuja is not a threat to the PDP in Rivers State because our candidates won all their elections fair and square in the various polling units across the state.

“So the relocation of the tribunal is not a problem to us as long as the judges will serve justice based on merit, equity and fairness.”

Reacting, spokesman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Governorship Campaign Council, Dr Bethel Jaja, said his party believes that the judges will be fair to all petitioners irrespective of the location of the sitting.

According to Jaja: “I believe that whether they are in Port Harcourt or not, those who are very steadfast and firm in ensuring that the right is done will not be unnecessarily induced by anybody. I don’t think so.

“I believe that the eminent personalities in that tribunal will be able to do the right thing and administer justice as it is supposed to be. I have confidence in them.”