The election petitions tribunal sitting in Enugu on Tuesday nullified the election of the Senate Committee Chairman on Media, Senator Ayogu Eze, representing Enugu North in the upper chamber.
The tribunal also sacked Patrick Asadu, who represents Nsukka/Igboeze South Federal constituency in the House of Representatives.
Both are of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Asadu’s declaration as winner of the election was contested by the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Joel Ezeugwu, who succeeded in proving that the election did not comply with the electoral laws.
The tribunal ruled that it cannot uphold Asadu‘s election, and thus nullified it and ordered a re-run within three months.
It awarded the cost of N10,000 against him in favour of the petitioner.
The court held that Eze‘s purported election was not in consonance with the principles of electoral laws as it was characterised with malpractices, voters intimidation, threat of violence and cancellation of opponents votes.
It, therefore, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct fresh elections in the area within three months from Tuesday when the judgment was given.
Eze’s declaration as the winner of the April 21, 2007 senatorial election was challenged by the Action Congress candidate, Major- Gen. Joseph Okoloagu (rtd.) who prayed the court to nullify the polls and to order for fresh elections in the senatorial district based on the irregularities that characterised the election.
The election petitions tribunal sitting in Makurdi, Benue State capital, also on Tuesday, nullified the election of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Terseer Tsumba.
Tsumba represented Buruku state constituency in the state House of Assembly.
The Speaker’s opponent and Action Congress candidate, Mr. Osbed Kwaghga, had challenged the election of Tsumba claiming that the Independent National Electoral Commission merely awarded votes to Tsumba.
By Adelani Adepegba, Enugu
The Punch
Wednesday, December 2007
