Delta North: Candidate wants INEC compelled to issue him certificate of return

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the 2019 general elections, Hon David Olayinka Atie, has urged the Delta state Election Petition Tribunal, panel III, to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue him certificate of return as the winner of the House of Assembly election for Warri North constituency.

Hon Atie had petitioned the 1strespondent, Hon Alfred Martins (PDP), through his counsels, Barrister Charles Umweni, Gibson Akporehe, and Dom Chukwuemeka, saying that Martins did not win the 2019 assembly elections conducted by INEC.

He contended that the result purportedly entered for the 1st respondent, Alfred Martins (PDP) by 3rd respondent, (INEC), were concocted and therefore wrongful, illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void.

The APC candidate also told the tribunal that the return of 1st respondent as the winner of the state assembly election for Warri North state constituency of Delta state is invalid, adding that the said return was not based on majority of lawful votes cast at the election.

Atie averred further that the tribunal should nullify and cancel the certificate of return issued by the 3rd respondent, (INEC) in favour of the 1st respondent (Hon Alfred Martins).

The petitioner also urged the tribunal to return him as the winner of the House of Assembly election for Warri North state constituency of Delta state House of Assembly having scored the majority of lawful votes cast at the election.

Atie, who has assembled 30 witnesses to testify on his behalf, urged the tribunal to, in the alternative, nullify the House of Assembly elections in wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of Warri North local government of Delta state and order a supplementary election in respect of same.

The 1st respondent, Hon Alfred Martins, represented by Barrister Chukwuka Jonathan Enegide, told the tribunal to uphold his client election as the winner of Warri North constituency Delta state House of Assembly having scored the highest votes cast and dismiss the petition.

Meanwhile, the tribunal presided over by Justice E.I Ngene has commenced hearing on the petition.

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