The National and State Assemblies Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Jabi, Abuja, on Friday, upheld the election of Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu as Senator representing Imo north in the National Assembly.
Delivering judgment, the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice A.G. Kwajafa, held that, “the petition lacks merit in every facet” and that, the petitioner could not substantiate his petition.
“You cannot probate and approbate at the same time. You cannot tell the tribunal that there was no supplementary election on the 28 and still go ahead to tell the tribunal to declare you winner of the 23rd and 28th rerun election.
“It is not enough to state that, results where inflated without stating where, when and how the results were inflated.
“The petition fails in its entirety and it is hereby dismissed”. The Judge said.
Reacting to the judgement, Counsel to the candidate of the All progressives Congress(APC) and Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu said, “Justice has been done to the parties and to the people of Imo north senatorial district.”
He maintained that, “the decision of the Tribunal vindicated the people of Imo North Senatorial District, whom, on the 23rd and 28th of July, 2016, elected Benjamin Uwajumogu, as the Senator representing them at the 8th senate of the National Assembly”.
On the other hand, the Lead Counsel to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ken Njemanze (SAN), was absent, but, John Usman, who addressed Journalists on behalf of the petitioners counsel, said they will get back to their client to determine further steps.
Meanwhile, counsel to APC, Barr Wisdom Durueke, said, “the election of Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu has been confirmed by the Tribunal, and the judgment was symbolic and a landmark judgment, we are happy the tribunal took the right decision”.
It could be recalled that, the PDP candidate for the July 23rd and 28th , 2016 senatorial rerun elections in Imo north, Chief Athan Achonu, had filed a petition through his Counsel, Ken Njemaze (SAN), challenging the election of Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu on the grounds that the election was marred by irregularities and that elections were concluded on the 23rd instead of the July 28th date of conclusion, as confirmed by security agencies and INEC.
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