seem to have landed in Imo state as the tribunal sitting in Owerri,
the state capital, has sacked the senator representing Imo North
Senatorial District, Senator Athan Achonu.
The tribunal further ordered the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) to conduct a new election withing 90 days of the
judgement.
The petition was filed by Mrs Rita Ibemere Okoroafor of the Accord
Party who challenged the outcome of the election because her party
logo was omitted by INEC in the ballot paper used in the election.
Delivering Judgment in the petition, the tribunal ruled that the
Accord Party candidate proved her case beyond all reasonable doubt,
247ureports.com reports.
Hon. Justice Garba I.B, who read the judgement on behalf of other
members of the tribunal, said the tribunal had no option than to
accede to the petitioner's request to cancel the election because her
witnesses and evidence before the court were consistent.
The tribunal also said she was not only unlawfully excluded but also
that the election did not meet substantial compliance as demanded by
2010 Electoral Act as amended.
The tribunal described as totally unacceptable INEC's claim that it
rectified the omission by using the customized ballot for Imo East
(Owerri Zone) as unacceptable, adding that the attempt was akin to
digging a new pit to fill an old one since it would have resulted in
the unlawful exclusion of parties whose logos and symbols were omitted
in Imo East (Owerri Zone) ballot paper.
The cancellation of national assembly members' elections seem to
affect mostly members of the Peoples Democratic Party as less than
three days after the National and State Assembly Elections Petition
Tribunal in Ogun state nullified the election of Senator Buruji
Kasahamu of the Peoples Democratic Party, another senator from the
party in Enugu suffered a similar fate.
Meanwhile, the election of senate president, Bukola Saraki, as the
duly elected senator representing Kwara Central constituency has been
upheld. His election was upheld by an election petition tribunal
sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, yesterday, October 13.
-Naij.com
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