Omehia’s chances of becoming Rivers State governor becomes brighter on January 23, 2012, as a re-constituted Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Port Harcourt ruled in favour of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), on the re-trial of the case between him and his cousin, Governor Chibuike Amaechi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in last year’s April guber election.
Governor Amaechi had prayed the court to dismiss the case on the grounds that the 180 mandatory days for hearing of the case had elapsed.
To Amaechi’s shock, the reconstitute three member tribunal presided over by its chairman, Justice Abdullahi Umar, thought otherwise and determined the case, according to him, based on the merit of the case.
Upholding the verdict of the Appeal court to re-try the case, the chairman said the time the case was on appeal could not be measured to be among the mandatory 180 days for hearing the case.
With this development, chances are that Sir Celestine Omehia may unseat his cousin as to occupy Government House come when the retrial of the case will be decided.
This is coupled with predictions here and there that the former gover, Omehia would soon occupy the Brick House.
Though hopeful, members of his party are asked to be clam and go about their normal duties without saying anything to anybody in the state.
There are also strong indications that Omehia may be fraternizing with key officers of the Peoples Democratic Party in anticipation of his upcoming victory.
Based on this victory over his cousin (Amaechi), senior legal practitioners are commending the judiciary for being its normal self in maintaining decorum in the legal profession.
Omehia’s counsel has also commended the three member tribunal for sincere job.
However, the Rivers State Youths Coordinator of APGA has appealed to youths of the party not to jubilate but should refocus their minds in praying, while expecting final victory that will see their man being sworn-in as Governor of Rivers State.
Sunny Nziah, said he appreciated the youths in the role they had play when the travail lasted.
According to him, as the youth’s coordinator of the party, he will ever stand for the happiness of the youths in the most appreciable manner, urging them to be peaceful in their dealing with others, even as the case is favouring them.
The joy that surrounds the entire APGA party members is something that had never been seen for a long time in the state for the tribunal upholding and ruling for re-trial.
According to some members who spoke with our newsdesk, Nigeria is coming of age as the judiciary system not be bought even as a sitting governor could be told the truth, pointing out that it has not been so for the past years.
They have much expectation that being so fair to have taken the case to this level, their man by God’s grace will be celebrated into Rivers State Government House soonest.
Allanso Jonathan Allanso
