The Anambra state National Assembly and State House of Assembly
Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka on Monday dismissed the
application filed by Nkem Ekweozor of the Progressive Peoples
Alliance (PPA) seeking the panel to relist his petition against
Senator Uche Ekwunife of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Ekwuozor, who was the candidate of the PPA in the February 23
election for Anambra Central senatorial district had approached the
tribunal on August 5, seeking it to relist his petition which was
struck out in April.
The petitioner filed his petition on March 18.
In his petition, the applicant urged the tribunal to upturn the
declaration of Sen. Ekwunife as the winner of the poll, claiming
that the election was marred by irregularities and did not comply
with the Electoral Act of 2010 (as amended).
He therefore, urged the tribunal to nullify the election and
order a fresh exercise.
Delivering ruling, Justice Esther Haruna, chairperson of the
tribunal, held that Ekwuozor did not demonstrate seriousness in
having the petition relisted.
The judge ruled that seeking relisting of a petition four months
after it was struck out in April, doesn’t depict the seriousness
about the litigation, adding that the applicant should have applied
for relisting immediately the petition was struck out.
She held that the current petition amounts to abuse of court
process and consequently, dismissed the application.
Speaking to newsmen after the ruling, Ekweozor said he would
appeal the ruling because he was convinced he has a strong case
against Sen. Ekwunife’s election.
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