Senator Orji Uzor Kalu Clinches, representing Abia-North, secured another legal victory at the Court of Appeal against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Mao Ohuabunwa, affirming his win following a challenge from the opposition. The decision, delivered by the Court of Appeal in Lagos Division under the leadership of Abiri JCA, dismissed the appeal made by Ohuabunwa and the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Nnamdi Iro-Orji.
The court ruled that the petitioners failed to substantiate claims of disenfranchisement, emphasizing that the elections were conducted in all polling units, supported by the submission of form EC40G, which detailed the absence of voting in specific affected units. Judge Abiri highlighted the petitioners’ failure to provide the total number of individuals who collected voter cards, leading to the dismissal of the appeal.
The judgment reinforced the decision of the National Assembly petitions Tribunal in Umuahia, dismissing Ohuabunwa and Iro-Orji’s petition for its lack of merit. It further validated the compliance of the former Abia State governor’s election with Electoral Act regulations, refuting arguments that elections did not take place in over 120 polling units, primarily in Ohafia and Arochukwu local government areas.
Additionally, the court rejected Ohuabunwa’s plea to disqualify Kalu based on an alleged admission of past fraud conviction, setting aside these claims.
This legal triumph follows Kalu’s previous success at the Appeal Court against LP’s Iroh-Oji, where similar arguments regarding a previous conviction were made. Kalu, a prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress, was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer for Abia North, Chinedu Nnamdi, securing 30,805 votes, surpassing Iroh-Oji’s 27,540 and Ohuabunwa’s 15,175 votes.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu Clinches victory echoes his previous win in 2019 against Ohuabunwa’s bid to contest the election results. His consistent legal successes reinforce his position in the Senate and his influence within the political landscape of Abia-North.
For more news visit https://arritoneconsult.com.ng/blog
For more educational post visit examhood.com.ng