Tension In Esit Eket as Judge Refuses Judgement on PDP Chairmanship Tussle

BY INIOBONG PAUL

The Akwa Ibom State Federal High Court presided over by Justice Ekaette Obot on Wednesday surprisingly refused to deliver judgement on the lingering case between Hon Ubong David Akai and the  Executive Chairman of Esit Eket Local Government Area, Hon Iniobong Robson.

The Plaintiff, Hon Ubong Akai is in court to challenge the eligibility of Hon Iniobong Robson to contest the last PDP Primaries having failed to resign as the Transition Chairman of Esit Eket within the stipulated 30 days by law.

Our correspondent who has been mionitoring the proceedings gathered  that throughout the 8th adjournments in the matter, the 3rd defendant, the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission did not defend the matter  despite having been served with all the processes in the matter. The court after taking arguments from the counsel representing the Plaintiff, 1st and 2nd defendants on the 8th of January 2018, adjourned the suit to the 7th of February 2018 for its judgment.

Our correspondent reveals that on the date for Judgment, a counsel appeared in court from the ministry of justice on behalf of the 3rd defendant and asked the court to allow them defend the matter since they have filed a motion asking the court not to deliver the judgment so they can defend.

This motion did not however go down well with other parties involved in case as other lawyers in the matter initially opposed stating that same is an abuse of the court's process as there is nothing as an arrest of judgment which is what the Government was indirectly praying for.

Surprisingly, the trial judge, Justice Ekaette Obot however, refused to read her judgement but allowed the Government to move the said motion after which she granted same and asked the plaintiff to make a reaction to the defence of the Government.

Rather than the much awaited judgment, the matter has now been adjourned to next week Tuesday, 13th of February 2018 for argument between the plaintiff's counsel and the state counsel.

Meanwhile, the refusal of the trial judge to read her Judgement on the case has heightened tention in the political space of Esit Eket Local Government Area.

Our medium understands that some PDP Chieftains in the Local Government Area believes that the recent interference of Government in the case  may lead unnecessarily delay of the case.

 It will be recalled that the 1st Defendant was the transition committee chairman for Esit Eket LGA at the time of the said nomination. The Plaintiff had petitioned the party (PDP) over the non-resignation of the 1st defendant but they paid deaf ears to the said petition. This made the plaintiff to approach the High Court of Akwa Ibom State for the interpretation of the PDP guidelines viz-a-viz the eligibility of the 1st defendant to contest the primaries having resigned his appointment in accordance with the 2nd defendants' guidelines.

The plaintiff has exhibits before the court signed by the 1st defendant on the 15th of September 2017 (three days to the primaries) in his capacity as the Transition Chairman of Esit Eket. The 1st defendant and the PDP before now have defended the matter which is pending before High Court 2,Uyo presided over by Hon. Justice Ekaette Obot.