The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Enugu on Thursday affirmed the declaration of Hon. Dennis Agbo, member representing Igbo-eze North/Udenu federal constituency.

Candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the February 25 House of Reps contest, Obiageli Ajih is challenging INEC declaration of Hon. Dennis Agbo of the Labour Party.

Agbo was returned elected after he polled a total of 28,870 votes to defeat his closest rival, Simon Atigwe of the Peoples Democratic party who garnerd 14,221 votes.

Ajih, who was not satisfied with the outcome of the process had prayed the tribunal to nullify the election and order a rerun on the ground that the name of her party (APC) did not appear in the form EC8a being the declaration sheet.

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Delivering her judgment on the petition on Thursday, the three man honourable Justices dismissed the APC’s suit for being incompetent, vague, lacking in merit and mere academic exercise.

Daily Gazette had reported that Obiageli Ajih came distant third in the February 25 House of Representatives election with a total of 961 votes, while Elochukwu Hyginus of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, came forth after he secured 382 votes.

Legal practitioner, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) has said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cannot ‘birth’ credible elections in the country unless the body is unbundled.

While reacting to the tribunal judgment that upheld the victory of President Bola Tinubu, Adegboruwa said in a Facebook post on Tuesday that INEC must be unbundled and dismantled urgently.

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His words: “Today’s verdict should be a reason for sober reflection by all, especially for the parties in court, their lawyers and all lovers of democracy. The petitions could have been decided purely on points of law and within few days of the election.

“There can be no real victory in the resolution of the legal issues by the court when the fabric of our democratic engagements seem to have been hijacked and compromised. Part of the lesson in this process is for us to go back and review the electoral process and the litigations following it. INEC as it is presently constituted cannot birth any credible election in Nigeria.

“In all, may be there was too much expectation that the status quo will be upturned, whereas many of the principles of law canvased had long been settled by the apex court.

“While encouraging all parties to continue in towing the paths already defined by law for the ventilation of grievances, we owe Nigeria an urgent duty to dismantle INEC, urgently.”

He also stated that the verdict by the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) ‘was not totally unexpected, noting that the tension was ‘completely unnecessary.’

He said, “The verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Court was not totally unexpected, given the stark realities facing us as a nation and the state of the law.

“The principles of presumption of regularity of elections and that of substantial conformity make it extremely difficult to prosecute elections successfully.

“In this particular case, the burden placed upon the petitioners in order to upturn the election was practically insurmountable. To make matters worse, INEC practically fought the petitioners to a standstill, as if it was an interested party in the whole process.

“I honestly don’t think anyone expected a different verdict from what was delivered in Abuja today, particularly the lawyers. The tension was completely unnecessary.”

The Vice-President, Mr Kashim Shettima, has said that the judgment delivered by the Presidential Election Petition Court is a testimony to the fate Nigerians have in President Bola Tinubu and his administration.

On whether the judgement will retire the PDP’s presidential candidate politically, Vice President Shettima noted” We are not going to retire him to Dubai or Morroco, I will retire him to Fombina, I will buy him goats, broilers and layers so that he can spend his days rearing goats and broilers, but on a joking side.

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Shettima made the assertion while speaking to newsmen shortly after the 5-member panel of justices of the court led by Justice Haruna Tsammani delivered judgment affirming Tinubu’s election as president.

“My principal, President Bola Tinubu is eternally indebted to the Nigerian people and to the leadership of the party who have been here since 9 a.m.

“Our energetic chairman and national secretary of the party, members of the national assembly, ministers they have all been here.

“One cannot adequately convey our debt of gratitude to the Nigerian people, my principal will issue a formal statement but we felt compelled to talk to you having spent nearly 14 to 15 hours in this chambers.

“There is dignity of every person that we need to honour and cherish. We want to thank you; the journey is just beginning and we want to call on Nigerians, let us unite,” he said.

The vice-president declared that: ““What binds us together supersedes whatever divides us, let us unite as a people and face our common challenges.

“As I have always said, the trajectory of global growth is facing Africa and Nigeria the greatest black nation on earth will make or mar that trajectory.’’

Shettima said that even though it was a long day, it was a good day.

“Today is a great day for Nigeria. The Nigerian judiciary has proved itself to be the guardian of justice and fairness against the sirens of deception.

“It is a battle between the will of the people and the forces of misinformation and disinformation, but democracy has finally triumphed like the bird phoenix, It rises from the ashes resolute and unhindered and in this age of information discernment is our greatest armor and unity is our strongest hold.

“Remember, in this battle for the survival of the nation, in this grand symphony of democracy, your voice, your vote is the note that cannot be silenced but even in this moment of triumph, we are not going to tamper, we will work for the unity of this nation.

“Democracy as you all know is not a destination but a journey and it takes our resolve, our intent, our commitment to be the custodians of the will of the people,’’ he said.

On whether he would fulfil his campaign promise and “retire political tourists to Dubai, the vice-president said that campaigns were over and it was now time for governance.

“Atiku Abubakar is an elder statesman that I hold in very high esteem and anybody who knows the social-cultural interaction between the Fulanis and the Kanuris in the North will know that I have the liberty to haul all insults at him and he will bear.

“We are not going to retire him to Dubai or Morroco, I will retire him to Fombina, I will buy him goats, broilers and layers so that he can spend his days rearing goats and broilers, but on a joking side.

“On a more serious note, he is an elder statesman, the nation needs him, experience is not something that you can buy in the market place. We will tap into his wealth of experience and exposure to catapult the nation to a higher level,” he stated.

NAN reports that Shettima along with Governors Yahaya Bello of Kogi and Hope Uzodinma of Imo, amongst other governors and top government functionaries, were in court to witness the judgment.

They sat from the beginning until about 10 p.m when the court delivered the final judgment in the three petitions challenging the outcome of the Feb. 25 presidential election.

The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Enugu will on Thursday, 7th September 2023, deliver judgement on the petition filed by the House of Reps candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Obiageli Ajih, against the victory of the Labour Party lawmaker representing Igbo Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency, Hon. Dennis Agbo.

Hon. Dennis Agbo was declared winner of the keenly contested House of Reps election by the Independent National electoral commission, INEC, after he polled a total of 28,870 votes to defeat his closest rival, Simon Atigwe of the Peoples Democratic party who garnerd 14,221 votes.

Dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, candidate of the APC, Obiageli Ajih, who came distant third in the February 25 House of Reps contest with a total of 961 votes went to the tribunal challenging the declaration of Hon. Dennis Agbo.

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Ajih, in her petition is asking the tribunal to nullify the election and order a rerun on the ground that the name of her party did not appear in the form EC8a (being the declaration sheet).

The three man honourable Justices shall give judgment on the matter tomorrow by 9am.

Hon. Dennis Agbo 

The Labour Party (LP) has expressed dismay and trepidation over the dismissal of petitions by the five-man panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) led by Justice Haruna Tsammani.

The tribunal had ruled on the petition filed by the party and its Presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

The tribunal had struck out the petition filed against President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, declaring it as incompetent.

Reacting, National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, said justice was not served and it did not reflect the law and the desire of the people.

“Nigerians were witnesses to the electoral robbery that took place on February 25, 2023, which was globally condemned but the Tribunal in its wisdom refused to accept the obvious.

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“What is at stake is democracy and we will not relent until the people will prevail.

We salute the doggedness of our team of lawyers who fearlessly exposed the wrath in our system. We can only weep for democracy in Nigeria but we refuse to give up on Nigeria,” Ifoh said.

He said that details of the party’s position will be presented after consultation with their lawyers after the Certified True Copy of the judgement is made available to the party.

He also urged all lovers of democracy to remain focused and hopeful because a new Nigeria is possible.

The Presidential Election Petitions Court on Wednesday described as “unmeritorious”, the petitions of the Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, claiming that President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not duly elected during the February 25, 2023 poll.

On the contention by LP that Tinubu ought not to be declared winner of the election because he scored less than 25 per cent votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and was not duly elected by the majority of lawful votes cast, the Tribunal held that the argument is “ridiculous”.

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The five-man panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani considered the directive of state policy and the preamble of the constitution that provides for the equality of citizens and held that by the provisions of Section 134 (2a) of the constitution, and without any form of equivocation, “scoring 25 percent in the FCT in a presidential election is not mandatory and this issue was also resolved against the petitioner and in favour of the respondent”.

The court subsequently declared LP’s petition clearly unmeritorious.

The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, Wednesday, sacked the member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency, Hon Amobi Ogah (Labour Party).

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It subsequently ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to withdraw the certificate of return given to Ogah and issue same to the Petitioner, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

The National/State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kano has on Wednesday upheld the victory of member representing Kiru/Bebeji House of Representatives, Abdulmumini Jibrin Kofa at the February 25th, 2023 general election.

The three Panel Judge presided over by Justice Ngozi Flora while delivering it judgment dismissed the petition filed by the All Progressive Congress, APC flag bearer, Muhammad Said Kiru on the ground that he failed to call cogent witnesses to prove disenfranchisement during the conduct of the election.

Justice Flora averred that the documents adduced before the Tribunal by both parties has indicated that the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP candidate, Kofa resigned his position as Executive Secretary of Federal Housing Authority, 30 days before the conduct of the Election against the assertion by the petitioner.

“The Petitioner has failed woefully to prove that there was Electoral malpractices and not in compliance with the provision of Electoral Act, 2022 as amended.

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“This Petitioner is hereby dismissed for lack of merit.

“The sum of N100,000 cost is awarded jointly and severally against the Petitioner in favour of Respondents,” Justice Flora however stated.

The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Kogi State has nullified the victory of Senator Abubakar Ohere as the winner of the Kogi Central senatorial election.

The declared Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the February 25 parliamentary election.

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In a unanimous judgment of the 3-man panel, the tribunal chairman, Justice K. A. Orjiako, said Ohere’s results were inflated in 9 polling units of Ajaokuta LGA in the said election.

He added that votes of the PDP candidate in the said election was intentional reduced in 9 polling units by the INEC Ward Collation officers.

Justice K. A. Orjiako also stated that 3 other polling units results was deliberately not entered for the PDP candidate in the same LGA.

The tribunal chairman said Natasha results in the 9 polling units of Ajaokuta LGA was 1,073 against the 77 that was recorded by the Ward Collation officers, stressing, that of the APC candidate was inflated to 1,553 against the actual figure of 1,031.

“The Tribunal is also convinced that the petitioner’s 996 votes in polling units 009, 046 and O49 polling units of Ganaja village of Ajaokuta LGA was deliberately not recorded at the Ward Collation centre,” Justice Orjiako held.

The tribunal added that it is not the duty of collation officers to reject results submitted by presiding officers from polling units in election that followed the electoral guidelines substantially.

He added that “the issues raised by the petitioner is hereby resolved in favour of the petitioners and after making the proper correction, Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan (PDP) having polled 54,074 against Abubakar Ohere (APC) who polled 51,291 is hereby declared the authentic winner.”

The tribunal, therefore, subsequently ordered the 3rd respondent (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of returns issued to Ohere and issue same to the PDP Candidate.

However, the court chided INEC for deliberately going out of its mandate of conducting a free and fair election by conniving with political parties to subvert the will of the people.

The tribunal therefore ordered INEC to pay N500,000 to the PDP candidate for ‘subverting justice’ in the Senatorial election.

In his response, Johnson Usman (SAN) , counsel to Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan, said the judgment has now validated the true winner of the Central Senatorial District election.

“This is victory for people of Kogi Central Senatorial district, victory for Kogi on general and victory for the election processes”, he said .