The Federal High Court in Umuahia, which is the location of the Abia Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal meeting, is well guarded.
Today, the tribunal is expected to rule on the petitions submitted by Okey Ahiwe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Ikechi Emenike of the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the election of Governor Alex Otti of the Labour Party (LP).
According to Naija News, a combined team of security personnel screened everyone entering the court grounds, including media.
The basic procedures were completed when the tribunal judges entered the courtroom following the screening and the counsels for the various parties announced their appearances.
The tribunal chairman, however, denied rumors that the litigants had been instructed not to appear in court and rejected them as untrue.
Ceekay Igara, the state’s chairman of the labor party, and Hon. Ginger Onwusibe (LP), a representative of the Isiala Ngwa North and Isiala Ngwa South federal constituencies, among others, were seen in the courtroom.
Additionally, PDP leaders were spotted in the court, including Barrister Esomonu Ugochukwu, the former Commissioner for Sports.