The National and State House of Assembly election petition tribunal sitting in Umuahia Abia state has dismissed the petition against the All Progressives Congress candidate, Dr Nnamdi Iro Oji, for Arochukwu Ohafia federal constituency.
The APC candidate had filed a petition challenging the election victory of Hon Uko Ndukwe Nkole of the Peoples Democratic Party representing the constituency in the Green Chambers of the National Assembly.
The tribunal chairman, Justice Cornelius Akintayo, struck out one of the petition on the grounds that the petitioners did not comply with section 138 Sub- section 1b of the electoral act 2010 as amended by making allegations of corrupt practices and non compliance with the guidelines for the election.
Further, the tribunal held that the petitioners failed to call as witnesses registered voters from the sixteen wards where he claimed elections did not hold, just as he did not proved the criminal
allegations made in the petition beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Akintayo, therefore, dismissed the petition for lack of merit and also awarded the cost of two hundred thousand naira in favour of the respondents.
Reacting, counsel to the respondent, Barrister Gideon Ejemai, described the judgment as a land mark decision that would stand the test of time.
Meanwhile, Nkole has described the judgement as ‘sound’ noting there was never a time he entertained any fear of losing the case.
He said his constituents voted massively for him during the 23rd February, 2019 election.
He alleged his opponent in desperation may have forged result of INEC in order to outsmart him at the tribunal.
Nkole promised to extend the olive branch should the loser be willing to made fences with him and accept defeat in good faith because he is part of his constituents.
