ELECTION PETITIONS TRIBUNAL: APC USING DELAY TACTICS,

It appeared that the APC was having a hard time convincing its agents to come and stand as witnesses, alleging further that there was a plot to replace the original names of witnesses and party agents.

 All Progressives Congress is using "delay tactics" in the prosecution of its petitions at the election petitions tribunal, says the Akwa Ibom Liberation Movement (AILM).

The leader of the group, Emmanuel Sam, reacting to the outcome of the tribunal sitting on Tuesday, where the APC and its candidates failed to produce its party agents as witnesses but asked for more time, urged the party to quickly show proof of its allegation of rigging.

He said that the undue delay would only serve as a distraction to those who have won the elections, urging the tribunal not to tolerate further delays, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

Last week, the APC candidate in the state Nsima Ekere, through his counsel, asked the Tribunal for an extension of time, a request which the Tribunal though granted but warned against further delay.

Speaking further, Sam said it appeared that the APC was having a hard time convincing its agents to come and stand as witnesses, alleging further that there was a plot to replace the original names of witnesses and party agents.

“The trial should have been a straight forward process. If you say the election was rigged, that results were misappropriated or there were irregularities, show proof. It is most uncalled for to hire revelers and brass band to disturb the tribunal in session,” he said.

Sam added that the APC had the burden of proving their case at the tribunal, advising the party to stay on providing evidence to support its case rather than resort to despicable fanfares like the one acted at the last tribunal session for the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district election.

“As comical as the fanfare was, the witness produced by the petitioner only collaborated INEC’s position that there were no elections in the polling units were INEC cancelled results because there was no accreditation,” he said.