The Election Appeal Tribunal sitting in Owerri, Imo State on Friday
affirmed the election of the Senate Committee Chairman on Information and
National Orientation, Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe as the validly
elected senator representing Abia South Senatorial District in the senate.
The three-man appeal panel led by Justice Tur in a late evening judgment
not only upheld the senator’s appeal against the lower tribunal judgment
ordering a rerun election in Obingwa and some wards in Ugwunagbo local
government areas of Abis State, but also struck out the cross appeal filed
by Chief Chris Nkwonta for being incompetent and not in compliance with
legal procedures adding that the cross appeal lack merit in its entirety.
He awarded a cost of N50,000 against Nkwonta who had challenged Abaribe’s
election the lower tribunal.
Nkwonta had in the cross-appeal prayed the appeal court to declare him the
winner of the election and set aside the judgment of the lower tribunal,
which had ordered a staggered rerun election.
Abaribe who was a Deputy Governor of Abia State, is a currently a third
term senator in the senate where he was its spokesman in the 7th Session.
In his ruling, the judge held that the petitioners/respondents failed to
prove their allegations challenging the election and added that Abaribe’s
election was valid as it complied with the electoral Act. The panel
further faulted the decision of the tribunal to reject the replies of
Abaribe, PDP and INEC declaring that it was against the principle of fair
hearing.
Abaribe’s legal team was led by Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu
SAN, Emeka Etiaba SAN, LTC Eruba esq and Emeka Eze esq who coordinated the
team among other lawyers..
Nkwota’s legal team was led by Prof Awa kalu SAN, Chief Chris Uche SAN
among othr lawyers.
Reacting to the victory, Abaribe hailed the judgment and dedicated to
Almighty God who made it possible and assured his constituents of his
continued valuable and dedicated representation in the upper chamber.