Rep seat: Appeal Court quashes tribunal verdict, sacks Elumelu 

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has set aside the judgment of the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunal in Asaba which declared  Ndidi Elumelu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the February 25 election.

The embattled House of Representatives member represents Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency of Delta state.

Upon its pronouncement, the appellate court, in two judgments, declared Ngozi Okolie of the Labour Party (LP) winner of the election.

In its judgment, the Appeal Court faulted the tribunal for voiding Okolie’s election and proceeded to dismiss the petition filed by Elumelu before the trial tribunal on which the voided judgment was given.

The court agreed with the lawyer to the Labour Party, Mahmud Magaji, SAN, that contrary to the findings of the tribunal, Okolie was duly nominated, sponsored by his party and that he resigned his appointment as a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Delta State Government as required by the constitution.