Obiano Wins At Election Tribunal

ODAA OPUO

The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting at Awka has dismissed 2 petitions challenging the election and return of His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano during the 17th November, 2017 gubernatorial election.

In a unanimous judgment delivered by the Chairman of the tribunal, Hon Justice H. A. Olusiyi, the tribunal held that the petitions lacked merit as the petitioners failed to adduce credible evidence to substantiate the petitions. The tribunal further upheld the preliminary objections raised by the respondents challenging the competence of the petitions. In a ruling delivered before the judgment, the tribunal held that the petitions were incompetent and consequently struck out the petitions.

Nonetheless, the tribunal held that the petitions were without merit and consequently struck them out.With the said judgment, the election and return of His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano (Ebubedike Ndigbo) was upheld and validated by the tribunal.

Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) counsel to Obiano described the judgment as a welcome development as the election in question was the best in the history of Anambra and that 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.

Mr. Emeka Etiaba (SAN) counsel to INEC 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

On his part, Mr. Nkem Ekweozoh, counsel to Okechukwu said he will appeal the ruling as he was not satisfied with the decision. Ekweozoh said some aspects of his petition were not addressed in his application to inspect sensitive materials which INEC refused to make available to him.