May 04, (THEWILL) – A cleric of the African Church in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, Reverend Richard Peters, has considered huge wastage and efforts in futility on the part of governorship candidates in the state, whose petitions are in the 2023 elections tribunal, urging them to consider channeling their resources to better the lives of their supporters.
THEWILL reports that governorship candidates of major opposition parties in the State including The Young Progressives Party (YPP), All Progressives Congress (APC) and the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), have headed to the tribunal, challenging the victory of the governor elect, who is of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pst Umo Eno.
The cleric, who gave the admonition immediately after Exchange of Pulpit service at The African Church, St Michael’s Cathedral, Uyo, reasoned that since the elections had been adjudged free, fair and credible by all stakeholders including the security agents, international independent observers and journalists, the outcome from the tribunal would not be different from the results announced by INEC.
He reasoned that it would amount to a waste of time and resources to embark on adventure that would not yield any positive result even as he urged them to accept the outcome of the election for the overall interest of the state.
While noting that it was their constitutional right to seek redress in court of law in a case they felt aggrieved or shortchanged, Peters said it was not out of place for them, having failed the elections to work with the governor-elect for the development of the People of the state.
“The Nigeria constitution has given right to whoever that feels aggrieved or dissatisfied in an election or any matter to seek redress in court. But looking at the reports of the election in Akwa Ibom State, 95% of it points to the fact that the election was free, fair and credible, no case of disenfranchisement that was not taken care of by INEC.
“The results uploaded in the IREV were the same as found in the unit and ward level and there was no case of manipulation. Besides, all those results submitted were endorsed by the party agents and at no point did any agent said he signed the result under duress, all of them signed voluntarily because it was a clear process.
“I think it will be a waste of time and resources for these candidates to dumb petitions of elections they lost at the tribunal. If they so loved the State, they should accept the olive branch extended to them by the governor-elect, he is ready to welcome good ideas and ready to work with anyone who has the interest of the people at heart.
“I mean, why the unnecessary distraction of going to the tribunal from the state level to tribunal, then to supreme court? at the end of the day resources are being wasted. Why not use those resources to empower your supporters and make their lives better?” he stated.
