Tribunal In Abia Sacks Two LP Reps, Declares APC, APGA As Winners
The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, Abia, has on Monday sacked the member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency, Ibe Okwara, of the Labour Party (LP).
It declared the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Dan Okeke as the winner of the February 25, 2023 National Assembly election in the constituency.
While the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the LP candidate as the winner of the exercise, an unsatisfied Okeke approached the court to seek the nullification of Ibe’s election.
He alleged that the LP candidate’s win did not comply with the provisions of the law.
Months after his petition, a three-member panel led by its Chairman Justice Adeyinka Aderegbegbe granted his relief and ruled that Ibe’s election did not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
It subsequently declared the APC candidate as the winner of the poll and ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Ibe and give a fresh one to Okeke.
Similarly, another National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia sacked the lawmaker representing Abia North/South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives Emeka Nnamani of the Labour Party (LP).
The three-man tribunal declared Alex Ikwechegh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as the winner of the election.
With this development, Labour Party has lost the total of four House of Representatives members at the election petition tribunal judgement.
Those sacked are as follows:
- Hon Amobi Ogah representing Umunneochi/Isiukwuato Federal Constituency, he was declared winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) but the Tribunal removed him and declared Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeocha of the APC as winner .
- Hon Ibe Okwara representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency, he was declared winner on the platform of the Labour Party by INEC, but the Tribunal today sacked him and declared the APC Candidate Daniel Okeke as winner.
- Hon Emeka Nnamani Representing Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency, he was declared winner on the platform of he Labour Party by INEC, but the Tribunal today disqualified him for academic credentials falsification and declared the APGA Candidate Mr Alex Mascot as winner.
- Hon Munachim Alozie representing Osisioma/Obingwa/Ugwunagbo Federal Constituency, he was declared winner of the election on the platform of Labour Party by INEC , the Tribunal nullified his election while ruling on the petition brought by the candidate of YPP Hon Ibe Nwoko.