The House of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Owerri, Imo State capital, has nullified the purported election of the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate for Owerri West state constituency, Mr. Victor Onyewuchi.
Delivering judgment in the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for the election, Chidi Ihemedu, the tribunal chairman, Hon. Justice Abdullah Sanya, upheld the petitioner’s grounds for filing the suit and declared that the election as inconclusive.
The tribunal then ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct a rerun within 90 days in the affected polling booths in the constituency.
Vanguard recalls that the PDP candidate dragged Onyewuchi to the tribunal, alleging that the APC candidate, who was declared winner of the election, did not actually win the April 2015 electoral contest.
Speaking to Vanguard after the delivery of the judgment, Ihemedu said he was happy that the honourable judges, who adjudicated over his matter, eventually vindicated him.
“My stand before approaching the tribunal was that I was not beaten in a free and fair contest. I am happy that the tribunal agreed that my opponent never won the election. This is a fine step towards reclaiming my mandate,” Ihemedu said. (Vanguard)
