The mood of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the November 2013 Anambra State governorship election, Senator Chris Ngige, is upbeat ahead of this afternoon’s judgement of the appeal tribunal sitting in the neighbouring state of Enugu.

Ngige beamed with smiles yesterday as he broke the news of the impending ruling by the appeal court to his followers and party members at an Anambra APC event held at Finotel Hotel in Awka.

He was intermittently hailed as “Governor in waiting” by the Master of Ceremony, Chief Okelo Madukaife and APC faithful, whereupon an even bigger smile played across his lips.

Though Ngige came third during the election behind Chief Willy Obiano of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and second-placed Comrade Tony Nwoye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he is hoping that the election result would be annulled and fresh elections ordered, thus giving him a fresh chance.

Ngige and Nwoye had proceeded to the appeal tribunal after equally losing at the Anambra State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal presided over by Hon. Justice Ishaq Bello, which on June 4 in Awka upheld the victory of Obiano, declaring that he was validly elected as the November 16, 17 and 30 governorship ballot complied substantially with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.

Information reaching News Express revealed that the appeal tribunal contacted parties to the dispute yesterday to inform them that the judgment would be delivered around noon today, with Hon. Justice Garba Lawal of the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal presiding.

Commenting on the reason for Ngige’s optimism, a prominent an important player in Anambra’s political chess game told News Express that the political hawks in the state are circling again and have reportedly made overtures to the appeal tribunal.

“We, however, expect the tribunal members, as men of honour, to give a ruling that is consistent with justice and the facts of the case,” the source said.

•Photo shows Senator Ngige.

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