APGA loses Assembly seat to ACN

Posted by admin Action Congress of Nigeria, All People Grand Alliance (APGA), Anambra, Party Politics, State News Sunday, November 13th, 2011

The election petition tribunal II sitting in Awka has nullified the return of Tony Uche Ezekwelu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as member representing Idemili South State Constituency in Anambra State House of Assembly.

In his stead, the Justice Yetunde Adesanya-led tribunal declared Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate, Mr. Ebele Obi, as the actual winner of the said election held on April 26, 2011 having scored, according to it, the highest number of valid votes.

The tribunal also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to forthwith withdraw the certificate of return issued to Ezekwelu and to issue Obi with certificate of return. Both the ACN candidate, Obi and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr. Ifeanyi Igwe, had petitioned against the return of the APGA candidate, Ezekwelu by INEC with Obi claiming that there was no election in Ojoto Ward as the election was marred by violence, voting by none accredited voters, ballot snatching and rigging.

He also alleged that Ojoto Ward result was cancelled by the Constituency Returning Officer for the Ward I, Dr. Ikemefuna Uzochukwu and a re-run election recommended for the said ward. The petitioner, Obi, also alleged that INEC without conducting the re-run procured the services of one Dr. Alex Asigbo to declare the APGA candidate, winner by adding 4, 553 votes in just Ojoto Ward that was cancelled to 3, 041 votes he scored in 11 out of the 12 Wards of the constituency where election was conclusive and declared him winner on May 6, 2011, the day the re-run was supposed to hold without the re-run holding.

He prayed the tribunal to hold that there was no valid election in Ojoto Ward since the re-run recommended for the ward never took place. Furthermore, he asked the tribunal to declare him winner since he had the highest number of valid votes in the other 11 wards where election was conclusive with 6, 500 votes against 3, 041 scored by the APGA candidate.

-Sunwp_posts