The Appeal Court sitting in Owerri, Imo state, has upheld the election of Hon. Mrs. Nkeriuka Onyejiocha, the member representing Isiuakwato/Umunneochi at the federal House of Representatives.
Onyejiocha, currently serving her third term in the green chamber, was the candidate of the governing All Progressives Congress(APC) in the February 23 presidential and National Assembly election held in Abia state. She was dragged to court by Jude Udeachara of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Daily Post reports that the Abia State and National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal led by Justice. A Adegbribe had dismissed Udeachara’s petition for unable to prove that there were no elections in some parts of polling units including a polling unit in Abia state University, Uturu in Isiuakwato local government area of the state.
Dissatisfied with the tribunal ruling, the PDP candidate filed an appeal in Imo state Division of the Appellate Court seeking to set aside the tribunal’s verdict which affirmed Nkeriuka Onyejiocha(Respondent), as the winner of the Isiuakwato/ Umunneochi federal constituency seat election conducted in February.
However, Justice I.G. Mbaba-led Appellate Court in Owerri, while delivering verdict during the weekend, aligned itself with the tribunal’s judgement.
It ruled that the Petitioner(Udeachara) failed to prove the grounds he sought in court, among others that, there was no election conducted in ABSU polling units.
The appellate court ruled that the judgement of the tribunal which affirmed Onyejiocha’s re-election stands and therefore, dismissed the Udeachara’s petition for lacking in merit.
Reacting to the judgement, the All Progressives Congress(APC), Publicity Secretary in Abia state, Comrade Benedict Godson, in an interview with newsmen, Monday, hailed the court’s judgement.
Godson praised Onyejiocha, describing the APC federal lawmaker, as a true Lioness who has carved a niche for herself in the political corridors of Nigeria and has left a golden touch where ever she goes. (Daily Post)
