The National and State Houses of Assembly Elections Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, on Tuesday, concluded hearing on the petition filed before it by the Ukwa East/Ukwa West All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate in the 2023 general elections, Barrister Nnadozie Okpokiri.
It should be recalled that Okpokiri and the APC had on the 16th of March, 2023, petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Nkwonta Christian and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP over the House of Representatives elections, which held on the 25th of February, 2023.
Okpokiri’s lawyer called a total of 16 witnesses who testified to the effect that the election for Member representing Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives did hold on the 25th of February, 2023 in the Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency.
The petitioners are asking for, among other reliefs, the following:
1. That it may be determined and thus declared that the election of Member representating Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives held on the 25th of February, 2023 and declared on the 26th of February, 2023, and the return of Nkwonta Christian, are unlawful, null and void by acts and / or omissions by INEC which violate and breach provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, Manual for election and the guidelines,
2. An Order nullifying and setting aside the National Assembly Election for the Member of House of Representatives for the Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency of Abia State,
3. An Order that a fresh election for the position of Member of House of Representative for the Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency of Abia State be conducted by the INEC.
The tribunal has heard the case for the petitioner who rested his case on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.
The three respondents, INEC, Nkwonta Christian, and PDP will open their cases beginning Thursday 20th July 2023.
