The Action Alliance (AA) in Abia has asked the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia to annul the election of the House of Representatives Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party hinged its demand on the alleged exclusion of its name and logo from the ballot for the 25 February poll.
Mohammed Ndalahi, the counsel for the party’s candidate, Ifeanyi Igbokwe, made the request during the tribunal’s sitting on Saturday.
Speaking under cross-examination by Mr Ndalahi, the deputy speaker, Mr Kalu and APC witness Cyril Kwubiri, alleged that Mr Igbokwe was not validly nominated by AA, hence did not participate in the election.
Mr Kwubiri, however, admitted that none of the documents he tendered in court to support his claim that Mr Igbokwe was not validly nominated emanated from APC.
The three-member panel, led by Justice Samson Gang, adjourned sitting to 14 August for the adoption of the final written addresses by all the parties.
Also, speaking under cross-examination in another suit challenging his eligibility to participate in the election, Mr Kalu denied forging his credentials contrary to the allegation by the Labour Party candidate, Frank Chinasa.
Mr Chinasa had alleged in his petition that the credentials presented to INEC by Mr Kalu had fatal discrepancies.
He, therefore, urged the tribunal to nullify his election, arguing that he was unfit to participate in the poll.
The tribunal on Thursday, admitted in evidence, nine
different documents tendered by Mr Chinasa to support his petition that Mr Kalu’s credentials were fraught with discrepancies in names.
The petitioners had argued that Form EC9, submitted to INEC by Mr Kalu, bore ‘Osisiogu Benjamin Okezie’.
They further posited that other documents, including his birth certificate, first degree certificate, NYSC Certificate and WASC bore ‘Kalu Benjamin Okezie’, and ‘Benjamin Okezie Osisiogu’, respectively. (NAN)
