The National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, Abia State capital, yesterday dismissed a petition filed by the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), for Obingwa East State Constituency, Mr. Peter Azubuike, against the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Solomon Akpulonu.
The LP candidate had petitioned the tribunal, alleging over voting and called for the cancellation and rerun in 28 polling units. He insisted that the election that produced Akpulonu as Obingwa East Constituency representative didn’t comply with the Electoral Act.
However, the tribunal headed by Justice Abubakar Kutigi, held that the LP petition lacked merit and could not prove the allegation of over voting and non-compliance of the election with the Electoral Act.
The tribunal declared Akpulonu as validly elected and awarded N200,000 cost to be paid to the PDP candidate.
In an interview with reporters in Umuahia after the judgment, Akpulonu, a former majority leader of the Assembly, praised the tribunal for what he described as an erudite and well-considered judgment.
He urged Azubuike, whom he described as his cousin, to join hands with him to develop the constituency.
Counsel for the PDP candidate, Chidozie Ogunji, said the petition lacked merit and commended the tribunal for dismissing it.
