Anambra Tribunal: Sen. Ubah defends case against Uba brothers

Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressives Party has begun his
defence at the Anambra Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting in
Awka.

Ubah’s victory is being contested by Sen. Andy Uba of the All
Progressives Congress and his younger brother, Chief Chris Uba of
the Peoples Democratic Party in consolidated petitions marked
EPT/AN/SEN/09/2019 and EPT/AN/SEN/11/2019 respectively.

Ubah presented a total of eight witnesses, four for each
petition on Wednesday, to testify on the validity of his victory at
the February 23 Senatorial election for Anambra South District.

Chuma Ogunjiofor and George Igbokwe SAN, were counsel to Sen.
Andy Uba and Chris respectively, while Dee Nwigwe SAN stood for
Ifeanyi Ubah in both petitions.

During cross-examination by Igbokwe, Mr Chukwuma Uba, who worked
as YPP collation agent for Nnewi North Local Government Area, said
the election was free and orderly.

He said that he signed the council election result for his party
alongside other party agents.

The party agent said the voters’ register and card reader were
used in the election and that there was neither inducement nor
intimidation of electoral officials, adding that agents signed the
result voluntarily.

When confronted with an exhibit of voters register, the witness
confirmed to the tribunal that his name was not ticked as having
voted.

He also acknowledged discrepancies spotted in the number of the
accredited voters, card reader reports and number of votes
cast.

He, however, blamed the discrepancies on INEC and told the
tribunal that no vote was awarded or donated to his principal.

Also testifying, Mr Okey Onuzuluike, who worked as YPP collation
agent for Ekwusigo Local Government Area, said the council was calm
on the election day.

Onuzuluike, who identified his name and signature as an agent of
YPP on the council result, confirmed the name and signature of PDP
agent on one of the result presented.

But he told the court that he did not know who signed for PDP in
another result for the same local government.

When also confronted with discrepancies in the total number of
accredited voters, card reader report and number of votes cast, the
witness said the figures were tiny and he could not see them
because he had an eye problem.

Igbokwe offered the witness his glasses but he declined, noting
that their sight problems were not the same.

Justice Thelma Okara told the defence to present all his
remaining witnesses on the next adjourned date for the closing of
all cases as the tribunal was constrained with time.

The matter was fixed for August 10 for the continuation of the
hearing.

(NAN)