THE Court of Appeal election petition tribunal has nullified the election of Senator Uche Ekwunife(PDP-Anambra Central) in view of the petition of the former national Chairman of the APGA, Chief Victor Umeh and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to conduct a fresh election within the next 90 days.
Also another member of the PDP representing Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Dr Okey Eze has been sent parking by the Court of Appeal panel sitting in Enugu.
The tribunal earlier this morning upheld the verdict of Justice Nayai Aganaba-led which had in Awka agreed with the submissions of the candidate of APGA in the March 28,2015 election, Mr Dozie Nwankwo which proved that Nwankwo actually won the poll.
Nwankwo had in his petition challenged the INEC’s declaration of Dr Eze as winner of the election. The tribunal held that it was convinced beyond reasonable doubt from the whole evidences that Nwankwo scored the highest lawful votes cast in the election and should have been returned by INEC as the winner.
In a declarative judgement, the panel ordered INEC to issue Nwankwo a Certificate of Return at once while the one earlier issued to Dr Eze be withdrawn and nullified forthwith.
The Court of Appeal panel in its unanimous and declarative verdict noted that after a careful analysis of evidence brought before it and submissions made by the parties in the petition, the tribunal was convinced that Nwankwo has proved his case beyond all reasonable doubts. That he also tendered all necessary evidence to confirm that he polled the highest number of lawful votes cast in the election and ought to be returned as winner by the INEC.
Mr Olusola Dare, representing the lead counsel to Nwankwo extolled the tribunal for its objectivity and forthrightness in considering the petition in its merit. He said that the verdict has demonstrated that the judiciary still remain the last hope of the common man and the oppressed.
Nwankwo in a his usual humble manner has urged the constituents to close ranks and join him to move the area forward to the next level.
Chief Sam Oraegbunam, a citizen of the area in his comments thanked God for seeing Nwankwo through. He described him as “a consummate humane philanthropist who was collectively pressurized by citizens of the state to come out and represent us. There is no family, ward or community in Nijikoka, Dunukofia and Anaocha that has not benefitted from either his scholarship, free medical or micro credit or poverty alleviation or skill acquisition schemes in the last 20’years”.
Other verdicts including those of Comrade Tony Nwoye Vs Madubueze(Anambra East/west); Ifeanyi Ibezi Vs Obinna Chidoka(Idemili); Goddy Ezenagu Vs Anayo Nnebe(Awka) amongst others were still pending.
