National and State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, the Abia State capital has upheld the election of the member representing Obingwa West constituency in Abia State House of Assembly, Erondu Uchenna-Erondu.
The petition, which was dismissed for lack of merit, was filed against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the March 18, 2023 election by Victoria Onwubiko of the Labour Party.
In its unanimous judgement, yesterday, the tribunal, chaired by Justice Abubakar Kutigi, held that Onwubiko failed to prove that the election was marred with substantial ‘noncompliance’ with electoral act.
The three-member tribunal also held that the petitioner, who contested the election results in 82 polling units (PUs), brought only eight witnesses and presented evidence for three.
The tribunal further described the evidence as abysmal with no credible empirical data, adding that none of the witnesses the petitioner brought could defend the documents brought before the tribunal.
The tribunal equally decried the alternative claim of disenfranchisement sought by the petitioner, adding that she failed to provide disenfranchised voters to testify before the tribunal.
Reacting to the judgement, counsel for the first-time legislator, Emeka Eze, who thanked the tribunal for ensuring that justice prevailed on the matter, said it was victory for the rule of law.
Meanwhile, Uchenna-Erondu, who is the House Committee chairman on public service has hailed the verdict noting that it is victory for democracy and the people of the constituency.
Explaining that he regards the mandate as sacred, he extolled the tribunal for being fair, firm and resolute in the judgement as well as upholding the provisions of the law.
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