Umana said it was a case of double jeopardy for the electorates in Akwa Ibom State who were denied their rights to vote in a free and fair environment devoid of violence and also lost the opportunity for compensation in the court
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on Thursday met with leaders of the party from Akwa Ibom State over the recent Supreme Court judgement on the disputed governorship election in the state.
The meeting with the Akwa Ibom State delegation, which held at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, was also attended by the party's National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni.
At the meeting, the governorship candidate of the APC for the election, Umana Okon Umana, said the party did not get justice at the Supreme Court.
Umana said it was a case of double jeopardy for the electorates in Akwa Ibom State who were denied their rights to vote in a free and fair environment devoid of violence and also lost the opportunity for compensation in the court.
The Akwa Ibom APC delegation to the meeting comprised Umana; the state APC Chairman, Dr. Amadu Attai; and Chief Don Obot Etiebet, a member of the APC Board of Trustees.
Odigie-Oyegun told the Akwa Ibom State delegation that the party was waiting for the Supreme Court to give reasons for the decisions it reached on the elections in the state and others.
The APC Chairman disclosed that the party's leadership will meet at a yet-to-be announced date to deliberate and decide on the way forward.
He said: "What is paramount is how to move forward on the situation that confronts us.
"We should reach conclusions that will guide us as a party in the months ahead."
Speaking at the meeting, Umana decried the Supreme Court judgement despite "overwhelming evidence" presented before the apex court confirming election fraud and violence allegedly perpetrated by the Peoples Democratic Party.
According to Umana, local and international election monitors, including the United States Embassy, the European Union and the Transition Monitoring Group reached independent conclusions that the Akwa Ibom State elections were marred by widespread irregularities and violence.
Umana quoted the Court of Appeal as having said: "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."
Umana said at the meeting: "Indeed we are not happy in Akwa Ibom State with the situation. Our people were not allowed to vote. It was not just a case of card readers, even the voters register proved clear cases of over voting. The EU, TMG and other international observer groups issued statements condemning the elections
"Against this background, we thought if we approach the court, we will get justice. We submitted over 350 exhibits, including video, proving election violence and malpractices.
"It was a case of double jeopardy. During the election our people were killed. We went to court and we could not get justice."
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