Tribunal Dismisses Petition Against Ekwunife

The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal in Awka has dismissed the petition filed by Mr Dozie Nwankwo of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for lacking in merits.

Nwankwo is challenging the declaration of Rep. Uche Ekwunife of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) as the winner the re-run polls for Anaocha, Dunukofia, and Njijoka Federal Constituency of Anambra.

In his judgment, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice G.K. Kaigama, held that Nwankwo could not prove his petition.

The petitioner had alleged that the polls were marred by violence, ballot stuffing, multiple registration, multiple voting and thumb printing.

Kaigama held that the petitioner failed to prove the allegation of non compliance of the election with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

He said that the forensic expert brought by the petitioner could not prove his case, noting that the witness was not even qualified to be an expert.

In his reaction, the counsel to the petitioner, Mr Olusola Dare, said that the decision to appeal would be decided after consultation with his client.

The counsel to INEC, Mr Ibrahim Sulayman, said that the judgment had vindicated the commission in the re-run election in the constituency.

“The judgment had vindicated the allegations leveled against INEC that it did not conduct the election in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act,” he said.

Ekwunife, represented by Mr Cyril Udo, commended the tribunal for the judgment, saying: “the verdict is a reflection of the votes of the electorate.”