The Court of Appeal chief judge has ordered the immediate relocation of the governorship election petitions tribunal to Abuja.

Nyior Sekulla, the tribunal’s secretary, announced this Wednesday in Abakaliki, the state capital.

Mr Sekulla stated, “Honourable Justice Monica Dongban Mensem, president of Court of Appeal – HPCA, has, through the deputy chief registrar, Election Petition Tribunal (EPT) Headquarters Abuja, directed the relocation of EPT sitting here to FCT Abuja,” declaring that the Abakaliki election petitions tribunal has ceased “to operate in Abakaliki” effective Thursday.

The official pointed out that filings of processes, taking of proceedings etc., would continue at Abuja.

However, Mr Sekullar did not disclose the basis for the development, saying he was not authorised to speak on it. He added that the Rivers election petitions tribunal and another state were also affected.

Benard Odoh, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) flag bearer and IfeanyiChukwuma Odii of the PDP, had rejected the result of the March 18 governorship election, in which Francis Nwifuru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner.

Last week, the tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow Messrs Odoh and Odii to inspect electoral materials.

Mr Nwifuru polled 199,131 votes to defeat Mr Odii (80,191 votes) and Mr Odoh (52,189 votes).