*For Govs Orji's, Ohakim's appeals 

Paramount rulers, red cap chiefs and other traditional rulers from Abia and Imo States turned out massively in Port Harcourt, yesterday, at the Appeal Court sitting in Rivers State in the resumed hearing of the appeal involving Governors Theodore Orji and Ikedi Ohakim of Abia and Imo States respectively.

Again, a handful of bare-footed white garment church leaders, wearing jumbo crucifix, which dangled from their chest to stomach, thronged the premises of the court, apparently to offer spiritual support to the litigants.

Consequent upon the huge crowd of party stalwarts, including women, which arrived the city with over 103 buses and cars, the police had to station armoured personnel carriers at the gate of the court with scores or armed men barricading the entrance while controlling the surge by the mammoth party faithful.

The diversion of vehicles, heading for Moscow Road, where the court is situated, caused an excruciating traffic jam along the stretch of UTC, Nnamdi Azikiwe Road till Station Bus Stop.

In the court which had over 13 Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Chairman of the Tribunal Justice Saka Ibiyeye heard the argument of the Independent National Electoral Commission to the effect that Orji and his deputy were not public servants before election and that the lower tribunal had no jurisdiction to declare a group a secret society.

Two appeals were filed, yesterday, by Chief Onyeama Ugochukwu and the Peoples Democratic Party. All the appeals have been fixed for hearing on November 25th and 26th 2008, following which a date may be fixed for judgment after the hearing.

Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) is the lead counsel for Orji while Livy Uzoukwu (SAN) heads the team of lawyers for Onyema Ugochukwu as well as Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) leads the team for INEC

At the court, yesterday, it heard the cases involving INEC vs. Orji and others, Ugochukwu vs. Orji and others, PDP vs. Ojir and others and Uzodima Okpara vs.Orji and others.

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