The National Assembly election petition tribunal sitting in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital on Thursday, dismissed the petition filed by the candidate Of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Abakaliki/Izzi Federal Constituency in the 2019 general elections, Mr. Uchenna Nshi against the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Hon. Sylvester Ogbaga.
Mr. Nshi had dragged Ogbaga to the tribunal seeking the declaration of the election invalid for alleged, “corrupt practices, intimidation of voters, violence, non-compliance to the electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and unlawful alterations of results in favour of Ogbaga.
He also prayed the court to set aside the results of polling units, wards and Local Governments as declared by the 1st Respondent (INEC) which gave the Ogbega victory.
Meanwhile in a judgment delivered by Justice Sika Henry Aprioku, chairman of the three man panel, the tribunal held that the petition lacked merit as the Petitioner failed to bring preponderance of evidence to prove his case.
In addition, the Tribunal awarded the cost of N150,000 each in favour of the 1st and second respondents while N20,000.00 cost was awarded in favour of the 3rd respondent.
Hon. Ogbaga while reacting to the judgement, described it as reaffirmation of the verdict of Independent National Electoral Commission INEC that conducted the election.
He urged the petitioner not to see the dismissal of his petition by Tribunal as a loss; rather, he should work with him as a younger brother and in-law, for the good of the constituency.
Also reacting, Counsel to the Petitioner, Barrister Mbam Pius, who held brief for the led Counsel, Michael Odoh, said, by the time they get a copy of the judgement, they would decide whether to taste its veracity in the appellate court or not.
