APC's governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom has responded to the supreme court's ruling that struck out his claims against the emergence of Governor Udom Emmanuel.
Umana Okon Umana
The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom state, Umana Umana, has said that the Supreme Court judgment which held that Udom Emmanuel was validly elected as the state governor in the April 11, 2015 election “calls for very serious soul-searching by our nation”.
Mr. Umana said in a press statement on Thursday that an indicting statement reportedly made by the Court of Appeal on the same Akwa Ibom governorship election petition shouldn’t be taken lightly, according to Premium Times.
Mr. Umana quoted the Court of Appeal as having said of the election of Udom Emmanuel: “May this country never again experience the violence and thuggery found to have taken place in Akwa Ibom State during the Governorship elections held on 11th April 2015.”
He said, “As law-abiding citizens we went to court to seek justice after the disputed elections, as advised by many people and election monitors, including the United States Embassy and the European Union, which had reached independent conclusions that the elections were marred by widespread irregularities.
“Our hope was that the judiciary would heal the wounds and provide succour for our people who were traumatised and brutalised during the elections, especially the families who lost their loved ones.
“But that was not to be.”
Mr. Umana said he was aware that Akwa Ibom people were surprised by the Supreme Court judgment, including the judgment of the Court of Appeal which had earlier nullified the election of Governor Emmanuel.