The Abia State Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Umuahia, on Tuesday, adjourned till the 25th of August, 2023 for the adoption of written addresses by the parties in the petition filed before it by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency, in the 2023 general elections.
It should be recalled that Counsel to Nkwonta Christian had previously made an oral application to have 17 additional witnesses which was struck out by the Tribunal after Okpokiri’s counsel, Achinike Godwin William-Wobodo had, on 29, 2023, argued that the application breached the Electoral Act and Guidelines in view of the fact they failed to front-load the request for the additional witnesses in their initial response to the petition filed by his client.
The tribunal on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 heard three witnesses of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, who were cross examined by the counsel to Okpokiri.
Okpokiri and the APC, who are the petitioners in this matter, are praying the Tribunal for the following reliefs, among others;
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, which was purportedly held on the 25th of February, 2023 and purportedly 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;
INEC.
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.
