Power outage stalls proceedings at Anambra election tribunal, forces long adjournment

Power outage at the Anambra State Judiciary Complex disrupted proceedings during the National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal in Anambra, thereby forcing a long adjournment.

The tribunal, chaired by Justice L.O. Ogundana, while adjourning proceedings at the tribunal, turned down the offer by a counsel to one of the defendants, who volunteered to provide diesel to power the generating set at the judiciary complex.

The power outage became an issue when it was needed in the courtroom to play a video recording brought by the counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission, Chief Alex Ejesieme (SAN), a development which elicited the adjournment.

Justice Ogundana was presiding over a petition with reference EPT/AN/SEN/05/2023, which was brought before the three-man panel by the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the 2023 Anambra Central Senatorial election, Dozie Nwankwo against the Labour Party candidate, Senator Victor Umeh.

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Umeh, who was declared the winner of the February 25, 2023 National Assembly election in Anambra Central senatorial zone is being challenged by Nwankwo and the candidate of New Nigeria People’s Party, Princess Helen Mbakwe.

However, the counsel to INEC had earlier offered to donate the diesel for the court complex generating set, but the panel’s Chairman declined the offer, saying he didn’t want the gesture to be misinterpreted.

Justice Ogundana later adjourned proceedings to July 8 and 9, 2023.

He therefore lamented the uncomfortable nature of the courtroom, saying the tribunal hopes that by the next adjourned date, electricity supply would have been restored in the complex.

The judge added that the condition in the courtroom was a sharp contrast to the atmosphere he experienced in Edo State, where he said there was 24hours electricity supply with all the air conditioners in proper condition.

Ejesieme (SAN), thereafter assured the tribunal that he would take the matter to the Anambra State Chief Judge immediately after the session.