Clement Nnachi, Abakaliki
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The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abakaliki the Ebonyi State Capital on Thursday upheld the election of Chief Sylvester Ogbagha the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) in the February 23rd 2019 House of Representative election for Izzi/Abakaliki Federal Constituency by the Independent National Electoral Election (INEC).
This follows the dismissal of the petition filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) in the election Mr. Uchenna Nshi at the Tribunal challenging the declaration of the PDP Candidate as the winner of the election.
Delivering ruling on the matter. the Chairman of the 3-man tribunal Justice Sunday Aprioku, ruled that the petition lacked merit as the petitioner failed to prove his case beyond all reasonable doubts.
According to him,”The petitioner,’s claim that the election was invalid by reason of corrupt practices and non- compliance to Electoral Act lacks merit”
” The petitioner did not bring evidence or witness to support his petition ,”
According to the Tribunal Chairman, the election of the defendant Chief Sylvester Ogbagha of the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP) was valid.
Justice Sunday Aprioku dismissed the petition for lack of merit
Reacting to the ruling , Counsel to the petitioner Barrister Pius Mbam said that the petitioner would appeal the judgement.
“Judgement of Court of First instance is always subject to appeal, we shall! Study the judgement and know the possibility of testing the veracity of the judgement in the Court of Appeal.
He dismissed insinuations that the petition was thrown out, insisting that judgement could go on either ways in any case before a tribunal.
“Judgement was just given though not in our favour, it is not a must that the person that comes to court will be the one to get Judgement.
In an interview with newsmen. the defendant and member representing Abakaliki/Izzi Federal Constituency in the House of Representative Chief Sylvester Ogbagha described the Tribunal judgement as an affirmation of the verdict given to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC).
“I thank God, I will prove to my people that I will protect their vote ,this is just what the Tribunal has done”
Chief Ogbagha appealed to the petitioner not to see the Tribunal verdict as a loss, assuring that he would use his representation to protect the interest of everybody in his Constituency.
