Monica Mensem, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeal, has mandated that the Ebonyi State Election Petition Tribunal move right away to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

The election petition tribunal office at the Ebonyi State Judiciary Headquarters in Abakaliki has been forced to close, according to a statement made on Wednesday by the secretary of the tribunal, Nyior Henry Sekulla, according to POLITICS NIGERIA.

All procedures relating to matters before the Tribunal will continue in Abuja, according to Mr. Sekulla.

The relocation of the Election Petition Tribunal (EPT) sitting here to FCT Abuja has been ordered, according to him, by the Honorable Justice Monica Dongban Mensem, President Court of Appeal – HPCA.

“Therefore, in compliance with the HPCA directives, the petitioners, counsel to parties, and the general public are hereby informed via this medium that the EPT sitting here in Abakaliki shall thereby cease to operate in Abakaliki as of April 26, 2019; filings of processes, taking of proceedings, etc. shall henceforth continue at Abuja”.

While the reason for moving the tribunal to Abuja was not disclosed by Mr. Henry, he noted that the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal and that of another state were also affected.