Anambra: Tribunal upholds Obiano’s election

The Anambra governorship election petition tribunal has upheld the election of Governor Willie Obiano in the November 18, 2107 polls.
Candidate of Mega Progressives Peoples Party (MPPP), Praise Okechukwu, in her petition prayed the tribunal to annul Mr 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.
Chairman of the tribunal, Justice H. A. Olusiyi, read a unanimous judgment that the petitioner had not proven her case substantially to invalidate the election.
Counsel to Mr Obiano, Onyechi Ikpeazu, described the judgment as welcome as the election in question was the best in the history of Anambra and 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.
Counsel to INEC, Emeka Etiaba, 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
However, Nkem Ekweozoh, counsel to Okechukwu, said he would appeal the ruling as he was not satisfied with the decision, saying some aspects of the petition were not addressed, particularly his application to inspect sensitive materials which INEC refused to make available to him. (NAN)