Appeal Court Sacks Senate Minority Whip, Nwokocha (LP); Affirms Pdp’s Akobundu
The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos has upturned the unanimous decision of the tribunal and affirmed Augustine Akobundu as duly elected Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on February 27, declared Labour Party’s Darlington Gideon Nwokocha winner with 92116 votes against against PDP’s Akobundu who scored 41447 votes.
Others who filed are Chief Sam Ifeanyi Onuigbo of the All Progressives Congress (APC-incumbent at the time) and Chief Ahamdi Nweke of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) who scored 7997 and 4637 votes respectively.
Dissatisfied with the results, Akobundu, a retired army colonel & ex-Minister of Defence (State) under the Jonathan administration alongside the PDP challenged the declaration and return of Nwokocha (ex-member representing Isiala-Ngwa North & South Federal Constituency) as winner.
On September 11, the three-man dismissed the suit for lacking in merit and upheld the Senate Minority Whip, Nwokocha as duly elected.
The PDP & Akobundu appealed to the final Court in these matters who upheld the arguments and appeal, affirming Akobundu as duly elected and returned.
The Appeal Court ordered the INEC to immediately withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Nwokocha and issue same to Akobundu.
Akobundu is only one of two PDP Senators from the South East Zone.
In other cases, the Appeal Court upheld the decision of the tribunal affirming Hon. Ginger Obinna Onwusibe (Labour Party) as the member Representing Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives.
PDP’s A C B Agbazuere, a former Chief of Staff to the ex-Gov Victor Ikpeazu, had challenged the election and return of Onwusibe to no avail.
The Appeal Court also upheld the Tribunal decision affirming Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe as Senator representing Cross River North Senatorial District.
Ex-Gov Benedict Ayade and the APC had approached the Appeal Court after losing at the tribunal but met same fate.
The Appeal Court upheld the tribunal decision upholding Esosa Iyawe (Labour Party) as the member representing Oredo Federal Constituency.
The Court dismissed the appeal filed by PDP’s Sunny Aguebor.
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