The Anambra state election petitions tribunal on Minday upheld the victory of Sen Uche Ekwunife and Sen Ifeanyi Ubah at Anambra South and Anambra Central Senatoral Districts elections.
The trio of Sen Victor Umeh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA, Sen Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress APC and Chief Chris Uba of the People’s Democratic Party PDP had approached the tribunal challenging the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission that Sen Uche Ekwunife of the PDP and Sen Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressives Party YPP won the said elections.
The Petitioners prayed the tribunal to set aside the declaration of the electoral body on the grounds of irregularities and over writing of the results.
Delivering it’s judgement in Awka, Anambra state capital, the tribunal ruled that on the issue of the candidacy of Ekwunife , the matter is a pre election matter and do not fall within the jurisdiction of the tribunal.
It also ruled that the Petitioner has no locus to question the candidacy of Ekwunife at the tribunal, adding that Umeh should have approached the Federal High Court in the matter.
The tribunal further in it’s judgement noted that based on the electoral Act sec 33 initial candidate of the PDP, Mr Charles Odinukwe officially withdrew from being the candidate of the party and that Ekwunife became candidate of PDP within the stipulated time frame for the subscription of candidates.
It further affirmed that there was no evidence of over voting in the said election and that the Petitioner failed in law to prove the allegations of over voting.
It dismissed the allegetions of the roving collection officer as the law can only rely on the results of the polling officials and not an official that is moving from place to place hence dismissing the Petitioner’s allegations on the twenty six polling units in Obosi Idemili North local government area.
On the Petition filed against Ifeanyi Ubah by Chris Uba, the tribunal dismissed all the nineteen witnesses brought by the Petitioner observing that the testimonies of the the withnesses evidential value and that the tribunal is enjoined to reject the evidences because the prosecution witness 1, who relied on the card reader did not prove the allegations leveled against the Respondent.
“The evidence of PW1 did not in anyway support the submissions of the Petitioner and it is clear that the evidences of the witnesses contradicts themselves and the court cannot pick and choose which one it would follow.
“The Petitioner failed to prove with the smart card reader which formed the basis of it’s claims from PW1 and it is here by jettisoned and discountenance because all witnesses anchored their evidences on the card reader.
“The evidence of PW1 did not in anyway support or reassure the Petitioner of it claimed victory
The tribunal consequent upon the rulings upheld that the duo of Sen Uche Ekwunife and Sen Ifeanyi Ubah were duly elected as winners of the Anambra Central and Anambra South Senatoral Districts elections in the state.
Reacting, Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah said that he truly worked hard to win the Anambra South senatorial election held in February this year.
He commended the tribunal judgement for further affirming the mandate willingly given to him by his constituents.
“I will continue to work assiduously to give my people quality representations at the senate,” Ubah said.