TheCable

Zainab Bulkachuwa, president of the court of appeal, has ordered the relocation of the appeal panel sitting on the Delta state governorship election petition from Benin to Abuja.

A source at the headquarters of the appellate court in Abuja confirmed the relocation in an interview with NAN on Wednesday, but did not give any reason for the decision.

“I can confirm to you that the panel will no longer sit in Benin, it has been moved to Abuja by the president,” NAN quoted the source as saying.

“The court will officially communicate this decision to the parties when a date has been fixed for the next sitting of the panel.”

An official of the court of appeal in Benin had dropped the hint of the relocation before the confirmation at the headquarters.

A front desk officer at the division, who pleaded anonymity, had told a NAN correspondent in Benin, that the sitting of the panel had been moved to Abuja.

On December 17, the panel concluded hearing in an appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Olorogun O’ tega Emerhor, its candidate in the April 11 election.

The appellants are asking the panel to upturn the verdict of the tribunal, which upheld the election of  Ifeanyi Okowa of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The panel had reserved its judgment in the appeal to a date to be communicated to parties.