By victor madumere
Following the appeal raised by the lawyer representing the APGA candidate in the Oguta State Assembly Seat, Walter Uzowanne in the on going Appeal Court case, a new panel has been constituted to hear the matter.
It would be recalled that Uzonwanne’s lawyer, Chief Henry Akudinobi had in last sitting urged for the overhaul of the panel arguing that some members who constitute the panel of judges are not eligible to continue to handle the case as they reportedly were part of the team that took the judgment on the April 26 2011 election.
The APGA counsel in his appeal recalled that it would be somehow to have same persons who handled the matter have another look at the case. In view of Uzonwanne’s appeal communicated to the court through Akudinobi, a new panel excluding the former ones has been raised. The composition of the new panel stopped the continued hearing of the matter yesterday as the new panel will be unveiled on Friday when the matter comes up for hearing at the Appeal Court. The concerned counsel to the affected parties when contacted is aware of the development.
Oguta State Assembly representation has been a matter before the court following a ruling of the Elections Petitions tribunal that sacked the incumbent, Eugene Dibiagwu after the Appeal Court upheld the initial election held on April 26, 2011 and requested that fresh elections held in remaining four wards which the PDP member won and was later sworn in.
Meanwhile, another fresh date has been fixed for the matter between the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Benjamin Uwajumogu over the latter’s cross-carpeting to APGA after he was elected the Speaker of the Imo State Assembly on the day of inauguration.
Irked by Uwajumogu’s defection after he gained entrance into the state legislature under the platform of PDP, the party who now has a minority status went to court to challenge the action of the Speaker alongside three others, Adaku Ihuoma, the majority Leader, Acho Ihim and Ugonna Ozuruigbo.
The PDP went to court to request that the constitutional provisions be applied in their cases by asking INEC to declare their seats vacant and conduct bye-elections to replace their positions.
