The Imo National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Nasarawa State, has affirmed Mr Dibiagwu Okechukwu of the All Progressives Congress(APC), as the winner of the Oguta/Ohaji-Egbema/Oru West Federal Constituency election.
The three -member panel led by Justice Yusuf Halilu delivering judgment on Thursday, held that Okechukwu was duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the election.The two other members of the tribunal, Justice M.G. Abubakar and Justice A.O. Familoni also concurred with the lead judgment.The judges also said that from the evidence before the court, it could not declare the election invalid for reasons of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
According to the tribunal, the petitioner failed to successfully prove the allegations of irregularities and substantial non-compliance with electoral laws.The tribunal also held that the witnesses called by the petitioner did not prove the allegations contained in the petition.The judges further said that contrary to the petition, INEC did not make any unlawful entries, mutilations or inscriptions on the Forms EC8A (11) nor did the electoral body inflate the votes scored by Okechukwu.
In the final analysis, the three-member panel held that Okechukwu was duly elected by majority of the lawful votes cast during the election which was held on Feb. 25.The tribunal consequently dismissed the petition marked No. EPT/IMO/HR/12/2023 filed by Ilo Ezenwa-Collins of the Labour Party (LP) against the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC); Okechukwu and the APC, for lacking in merit.(NAN)
