The Senatorial Election---Ita Enang vs. Nsima Umoh

Those who know Senator Ita Enang say the man has never contested (let alone win) in any election, yet, he has been a Senator representing the Uyo constituents, over and over. In the 2011 Election, Senator Ita Enang finally had the opportunity to have his name on the ballot box as a contestant. He won, or at least that is what he and his supporters claimed. The problem is Senator Ita Enang "won" by rigging the entire election and if Ita Enang does not put his empty arrogance and childish attitude aside, he may end up in prison for crimes committed during the election. Senator Ita Enang is a member of the People's Democratic Party, or PDP.

The person who is now giving Senator Ita Enang sleepless nights is a gentleman by the name Nsima Umoh of Action Congress of Nigeria, or ACN. He contested against Senator Ita Enang (who was the incumbent) for Uyo Senatorial seat during the immediate past election. When the contest was over, Mr. Umoh accused Senator Ita Enang of rigging the election. Umoh filed a petition with the Tribunal in Uyo. The case was dismissed on technicalities. Mr. Umoh took the matter to the Appeal Court in Calabar. Sometime last month, or there about, the Appeal Court ruled that it was wrong for the lower court to dismiss the case on a mere technicalities. The court then referred the case to Tribunal in Uyo for trial. When Senator Ita Enang was told that there is going to be a hearing on the case, he, literally, boobed in his pants; he knew he would not have any evidence that will support his claims of victory.

On Friday (December 9, 2011), the matter of Senator Ita Enang versus Mr. Nsima Umoh was heard by a panel of judges at the Tribunal sitting in Uyo. It was not a pleasant day for the Honorable Senator. First, he made a blunder by not including his party (PDP) in the suit as one of the defendants when he filed a response sometime last month. On Friday, when his lawyers tried to add PDP to the case, the judges objected; sorry, it’s too late. Without the presence of PDP in the case, analyst say that Ita Enang will probably never get the needed support from his party, which may translate into a guaranteed victory for Mr. Nsima Umoh of ACN party.

When Mr. Nsima Umoh petitioned the Tribunal for permission to present forensic evidence and several other evidence (videos, pictures, and papers) that would support his claims that Senator Ita Enang rigged the election, Ita Enang’s lawyers tried to block the acceptance of the petition. But the court, again, over-ruled the objection of Senator Enang’s lawyers. They granted the “prayers” of Mr. Nsima Umoh; Mr. Nsima Umoh will then have to present all available evidence in his possession, enough to convince the judges that Senator Ita Enang committed a crime, or crimes, when he rigged the election, which fooled the INEC into declaring him as the winner. The case was adjourned to January 9, 2012.

Eyewitnesses in the courtroom confirm that Senator Ita Enang was visibly shaken and angry during the court session. At one time he was so frustrated he tried to storm out of the courtroom but his lawyers, on knowing the consequences of such a behavior, had to physically “nail” him down to his seat. According to a source, one of the lawyers said to him, “Where are you going? This is your case. You better sit down and listen to what is going on.”

Needless to mention here, what is hitting Senator Ita Enang now is what is waiting for Godswill Akpabio, except his (Akpabio) may be more humiliating for him. His wahala with Mr. Frank Okon is coming up in court next week (December 15), where he will have to explain how he managed to obtain the Certificate of Clearance from Chief Nwodo. Several witnesses have confirmed that they have seen the affidavit, which was sworn under oath by the Chief, stating that he (Nwodo) did not sign any Certificate of Clearance for Akpabio. If the court accepts the affidavit as evidence, it means Akpabio committed Election fraud, which is a criminal matter.

Already, there are speculations that the EFCC is about to launch investigation over a petition filed against Akpabio with allegations that he bought bullet-proof Mercedes Benz for Mrs. Waziri, the outgoing Chairman of the agency. It could be recalled that Saharareporters published the result of its extensive investigation on the matter. The woes of Godswill Akpabio are many; he needs deliverance.

Written by
Ikpafak Thompson Essien
The Voice of the Poor Masses
Defender of the Oppressed
Social Critic
A native of Ibibio nation of Ubium Republic extraction, now living in the safe and beautiful city of Portland, Oregon, where no AKPF, ADUMA, ADV, and Akwa Ibom State politicians can reach.