Appeal Court Affirms LP Umezuruike’s Election In Rivers

A member representing Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 1 in the House of Representatives, Hon Mauchim Umezuruike of the Labour Party (LP), has emerged victorious at the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos.

 The appellate court dismissed the suit filed against him by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and its candidate in the February 25, 2023 general elections.

The lower election petitions tribunal had earlier dismissed the suit filed by Ndubuisi Felix Anokwuru and the APC on October 24, 2023 in file No. CA/ABJ/EP/RV/HR/53/2023 and that of Chima Ernest Boms and the PDP in suit No. CA/ABJ/EP/RV/HR/53/2023!

The tribunal in its earlier judgment delivered by Hon Justice Bamidele Aina described the submissions of Barrister Jubilee Nwokoro Chinonso, who is the lead counsel representing both the Labour Party and Hon Manuchim Umezuruike as lucid, intelligent and ex abundanti cautela in rebutting the documents and evidence and argument presented to the tribunal by the petitioners in the two election petitions.

In a final judgement delivered by Justice Yagarta Byenchit Nimpar of the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos, the court dismissed all cases against Hon Manuchim Umezuruike and thereafter affirms his election into the House of Representatives as authentic and valid.

After the verdict, the lead counsel to Umezuruike, Barr. Jubilee Chinonso Nwokoro, reiterated his belief in the judiciary as the last hope of the people.

He said that the judgement is the testimony of the trust and faith of the constituents of his client and that Umezuruike would now settle down for the business of delivering quality representation to his constituency.