The Tribunal also declared Chief ANDREW UCHENDU of the APC as the winner of the rerun election in the senatorial district on 10th December last year.
After considering the claims by Chief UCHENDU, who is the petitioner, the Tribunal judges declared that the APC candidate in the senatorial election won majority of the votes cast in the election.
The Tribunal therefore ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to withdraw the Certificate of Return from THOMPSON SEKIBO and issue same to ANDREW UCHENDU?.
Our correspondent JAMES IGAH was at the Apo Court Complex in Abuja where the judgment was delivered late last night and captured the prompt reaction of Chief ANDREW UCHENDU and his jubilant supporters.
The Tribunal’s judgment paves the way for Chief ANDREW UCHENDU to return to the National Assembly where he previously served as a member of the House of Representatives for Ikwerre-Emohua Federal Constituency.
But that would depend on if the Court of Appeal would uphold the judgment of the Tribunal, although we are yet to confirm if GEORGE THOMPSON SEKIBO would be going on appeal.
Also yesterday; the Rivers State Election Tribunal dismissed the petition filed by OTELEMAMBA DAN-AMACHREE of the APC, challenging the election of Senator OSINACHUKWU IDEOZU of PDP for Rivers West Senatorial District on 10th December last year.
DAN-AMACHREE had claimed that IDEOZU was not duly elected by majority of votes cast and that the conduct of the election was not in compliance with INEC guidelines.
But the Tribunal dismissed the petition for lacking in merit, adding that the petitioner could not discharge the burden of proof in accordance with the law.
