The Anambra governorship election petition tribunal, has upheld the election of Governor Willie Obiano in the Novmber 18, 2017 polls.
Praise Okechukwu, candidate of the Mega Progressives Peoples Party (MPPP), in her petition had prayed the tribunal to annul Obiano’s victory, for non-substantial compliance to the electoral act.
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were also respondents in the suit.
However, on Tuesday, Justice H. A Olusiyi, chairman of the tribunal in a unanimous judgment, ruled that the petitioner had not proven her case substantially to invalidate the election.
Reacting to the verdict, Obiano’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), described the judgment as welcome as the election in question was the best in the history of Anambra and that the victory was convincing.
Ikpeazu said it was the institutional right of the petitioner to have contested the poll but it was not necessary.
“It was the confirmation that the past election was about the best in Anambra,” he said.
Emeka Etiaba (SAN), counsel to INEC, also lauded the tribunal for a job well done.
“You know there were three petitions, we raised preliminary objections and based on that, one was struck out and in its wisdom, the tribunal decided to hear these other ones and one of them has been decided in our favour today,” he said
On his part, counsel to Okechukwu, Nkem Ekweozoh, said he would appeal the ruling as he was not satisfied with the decision.
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