News Desk
The Election Petition Tribunal sitting at Awka, Anambra State capital, has dismissed the petition filed by Chinedu Obidigwe, All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, challenging the election of Hon. Peter Udogalanya Aniekwe, (Labour Party), as the House of Representatives member representing Anambra East and West Federal Constituency.
The petition marked: EPT/AN/HR/18/2023 joined the following as respondents: Peter Udogalanya Aniekwe, Labour Party, Independent National Electoral Commission and the returning officer for the House of Representatives election.
In their ruling, the Honourable justices dismissed the petition on grounds of incompetence and lack of merit, citing inability of the petitioner to prove over voting in the complained polling units.
According to the ruling, “The petitioner has not been able to prove the allegation of over voting in polling units 004 and 007 Aguleri ward 1 as the serial mutilations on the said results which the petitioner admitted as polling units in his strongholds showed clear deliberate attempts to alter results of an election which has been concluded successfully. This is also supported by the BIVAS report submitted as evidence”.
The honourable justices, S.Y Abubakar, I. O Akinkugbe and B.M Kucheri, however, affimed that even if all the over voting and the places where the petitioner claimed there were no election were still added to the votes of the petitioner, the outcome will not affect the outcome of the election hence INEC was right to have declared Peter Aniekwe as the winner of the election.
The victorious Lawmaker, however, appreciated the good people of Anambra East and West Federal Constituency for their continuous support and confidence reposed in him, pledging his readiness to represent them like never before.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the judgement was delivered, Chief Hon Peter Udogala Anekwe (Macpee Milinaliugwu), said that the victory was for the people of Anambra East and West, maintaining that his victory was vividly clear, assuring that he would not treat with contempt the massive support of his people.
” To God Almighty be the glory for He has proven Himself ever faithful. I knew I was going to win because the gap was too wide,” he disclosed.
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