The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate during the recently concluded state assembly election, Hon. Otuwe Oji Kalu, filed a lawsuit challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) designation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer, Hon. Mandela Obasi, as the representative-elect for the state’s Ohafia North Constituency. The court has reserved judgement in the case.
The election was held on March 19, 2023, and according to OBASANJO NEWS24, INEC declared Obasi the winner because he allegedly received the most votes.
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate Okocha Uchenna Onuoha placed third, with Kalu coming in second.
However, angry with the results of the election, the APC candidate submitted a petition to the election tribunal.
Among the reliefs requested by Kalu in the tribunal, he argued that he should be recognised as the election’s legitimate victor.
He added that some INEC ad hoc staff members and representatives of the opposition parties colluded to rig the election in the PDP’s favour.
The final written speeches of both parties in the case were earlier adopted by the Abia Election Petition Tribunal in Umuahia.
The petitioner’s attorney, Mr. Anaga Kalu Anaga, Esq., requested that the three-person tribunal panel rule in favour of the APC based on the plaintiff’s allegations of altercation and falsification of the results of the conducted election in order to undermine the will of the people.
Additionally, Mr. Chiedozie Ogunji, Esq., the PDP candidate’s lead attorney, claimed before the state election petition tribunal that the petitioner had failed to provide evidence that the recently held election’s results had been tampered with.
He requested that the court reject the APC candidate’s case because it lacked merit.
The tribunal stated that the parties will be informed of the date for the post-election lawsuit judgement.
