N’Splash

More Excitement For Ekong Sampson’s Senate Inauguration as Dominic Essien Withdraws Petition

By Samuel Udoma

It’s all-clear for Ekong Sampson as another opponent, Dominic Essien of Labour Party has withdrawn his tribunal petition which challenged Sampson’s announcement by INEC as Senator-elect for Akwa Ibom South. News of the withdrawal of petition has given full impetus to Barr. Sampson’s Senate representation. The former Akwa Ibom State Environment and Petroleum Resources Commissioner, alongside 108 other colleagues will be inaugurated into the 10th Nigerian Senate on June 13, 2023 in Abuja.

Dominic Essien, popularly known as DUE had gone to tribunal to challenge the election of Dr Ekong Sampson of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the February 25, 2023 National Assembly election.

However, yesterday, in tribunal sitting at Judiciary Headquarters, Uyo, Mr. Dominic Essien, through his lawyer, Inibehe Effiong formally filed to withdraw his petition against Sampson. With the petition withdrawn, the coast is now all clear for the Inauguration of Barr. Ekong Sampson as Senator for Akwa Ibom South in about a fortnight.

At the tribunal, the case was called at exactly 10.02am. The petitioner, Dominic Essien, himself, was absent from court. However, his lawyer, Barr. Inibehe Effiong announced appearance. Barr. Utibe Nwoko, who was holding brief for Barr. Uwemedimo Nwoko SAN, lawyer to 2nd respondent, Dr. Ekong Sampson, announced appearance as well as lawyer to 1st respondent(Peoples Democratic Party), Barr. Emmanuel Akpan. Barr. Ntekim appeared for Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) – 3rd respondent.

A good number of Barr. Ekong Sampson’s supporters were in court, alongside a few members of the Labour Party, who stationed themselves some pews behind their legal team.

In response to the case called, counsel to Dominic Essien and the Labour Party, Barr. Inibehe Effiong announced the freewill withdrawal of his client’s petition against Dr. Sampson. He formally filed for the withdrawal and the court granted it, bringing the case to a dead end. It was a very brief outing.

Speaking with reporters after the session, Mr. Essien’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong said:

‘As a lawyer, I act in accordance with my client. My client, Dominic Essien had brought a petition against the announcement of Barr. Ekong Sampson by INEC as Senator-elect for Akwa Ibom South. We brought the petition in good faith. However, according to Nigerian election tribunal practice, parties in a case are allowed to settle out of court. As lawyers, we only act on instructions’.

‘My client briefed me that himself and his party had decided to resolve the matter out of court with the 2nd respondent. So based on that, he had asked us to withdraw and discontinue the case. So I can confirm to you that the petition filed by Mr Dominic Essien and the Labour Party was withdrawn this morning. That means there is no longer a challenge to the election of Dr. Ekong Sampson as Senator-elect for Akwa Ibom South’, he narrated.

Responding to the withdrawal, one of the counsel to the 2nd Respondent, Barr. Ebeute Ebeute, said with the court granting the withdrawal prayers and striking out the case, it was end of the road for the petition against Barr. Sampson. He thanked Sampson’s supporters who were in court to monitor proceedings, saying they should all go back home and prepare for the Senator-elect’s inauguration.

Recall also that about two weeks ago, candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in the Akwa Ibom South Senate race, Obong Martyns Udoinyang had announced his withdrawal of similar petition against Dr. Ekong Sampson.

Competent sources close to Dr. Ekong Sampson say that both withdrawals were done voluntarily and unconditionally. These have been corroborated by lawyers to the opponents, Barr. Mfon Udeme, who appeared for Martyns Udoinyang and Inibehe Effiong, for Dominic Essien.