Abia LP rep heads to appeal court as tribunal nullifies his election

The tribunal in Abia has nullified the election of Amobi Ogah, a Labour Party (LP) member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency.

The tribunal declared Nkiruka Onyejeocha of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the house of representatives seat in the state.

Onyejeocha, a former member of the lower legislative chamber, was appointed as minister of state for labour by President Bola Tinubu last month.

In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, the tribunal voided Ogah’s election on the grounds of non-compliance with the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act.

“There is no evidence of giving 21 days notice to INEC by the respondent before conducting their (LP) primary election,” the tribunal ruled.

“No date of primaries was placed before us, no evidence of primaries and the 3rd respondent has always said it’s an internal affair of the party.”

‘I’LL APPEAL THE VERDICT’

Reacting in a statement issued on Thursday, Ogah said his opponent who was declared winner by the tribunal could not have won the election.

“I want to state categorically and for the records that I will appeal the judgment by the tribunal as soon as I conclude with my legal team,” the statement reads.

Ogah claimed that the tribunal verdict is a “bizarre outcome” that is “not totally strange, as we had seen tendencies of clear compromise by the panel who discarded all known principles governing election adjudication and enunciated their own principles”.

He said his constituents voted for him because he could deliver dividends of democracy to them, adding that he would secure victory at the appellant court.