The Election Petition Tribunal Panel 1 sitting in Asaba, Delta state, has nullified the election of Hon. Benson Igbakpa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the member representing Ethiope Federal Constituency in the lower chamber of the National Assembly.
Hon. John Halims Agoda (APC), who contested the 23 February, 2019, National Assembly Election against Hon. Benson Igbakpa, had approached the tribunal seeking the cancellation of the poll on grounds of gross irregularities allegedly perpetrated by the PDP and the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) against him.
He urged the tribunal to cancel the election or in the alternative declare him the winner having scored the highest number of valid votes cast.
Delivering judgment in the suit on Friday, the tribunal presided over by Justice A.M. Abubakar, agreed with the issues raised by the petitioner and declared Agoda winner.
Consequently, the tribunal ordered INEC to issue a certificate of return to Agoda .
Meanwhile, the Election Petition Tribunal Panel III presided over by Justice E.I Ngene has dismissed the petition brought by Mr. Joel Onovwakpor against Hon. Leo Ogor (PDP).
Onovwakpor who ran against Ogor at the February 2019 National Assembly election to represent Isoko Federal Constituency of the House of Representatives, claimed that Hon Ogor, his party (PDP) and INEC connived to perpetrate massive electoral frauds and urged the tribunal to either nullify or declare him winner having allegedly scored the highest number of valid votes cast.
In its verdict, the tribunal presided over by Justice E. I. Ngene agreed with the position of the respondent (Ogor) and dismissed the petition on the ground that the petitioner failed to prove his case.
In the same vein, the tribunal dismissed the petition of Hon. Monday Igbuya of the APC against the current member representing Okpe/Uvwie, and Sapele federal constituency, Hon. Efe Afe (PDP) for lacking in merit.
