Tribunal Upholds Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi’s Election

Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Abakaliki yesterday, upheld the election of Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi in the April 11 gubernatorial elections.

NAN reports that Umahi’s election was challenged at the tribunal by the Labour Party’s candidate, Chief Edward Nkwegu.

Nkwegu had prayed the tribunal to either annul the election or declare him the winner of the polls due several electoral malpractice and violence perpetrated by the respondent’s party .

The Tribunal Chairman, Justice Theresa Igoche in a judgment, that lasted more than eight hours, dismissed the petition for “lack of merit”.

Igochie ruled that the petitioner could not prove that incidences of violence, which he claimed marred the election and contributed to his loss at the polls.

“The petitioner claimed that two Labour Party polling agents, Messrs Monday Ojo and Kalu Orji, were killed by agents of the respondent’s party at Afikpo North Local Government Area.

“The petitioner could not, however, prove that the polling agents were killed by the agents of respondent’s party, as the evidences he provided were insufficient,” she said.

The tribunal chairman also said the petitioner could not mention the identities of the people he claimed had perpetrated irregularities on behalf of the respondent and his party.