The Court of Appeal has affirmed the election of Col. Austin Akobundu (retd.) as the senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
Akobundu, a former National Organising Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), contested the March 2023 senatorial election on the platform of the PDP and was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
However, his victory was challenged by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Uche Ogah, who alleged irregularities and malpractices in the election.
Ogah had filed a petition at the National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, seeking the nullification of Akobundu’s election and the declaration of himself as the winner.
The tribunal, however, dismissed Ogah’s petition for lack of merit and upheld Akobundu’s election.
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Dissatisfied with the tribunal’s verdict, Ogah approached the Court of Appeal, seeking to overturn the judgment of the lower court.
But in a unanimous judgment delivered on Saturday, the appellate court dismissed Ogah’s appeal and affirmed the tribunal’s decision.
The court held that Ogah failed to prove his allegations of electoral fraud and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
The court also awarded costs against Ogah and his party, the APC.
PDP, in a statement issued via its X platform (formerly Twitter), hailed the judgment as a victory for democracy and the rule of law.
The party congratulated Akobundu and his co-senator from the south-east region, Senator Osita Ngwu, who represents Enugu West Senatorial District.
It said the two senators are the only PDP senators from the South-East in the ninth National Assembly.
Akobundu, in his reaction, thanked God and the people of Abia Central for their support and confidence in him.
He also commended the judiciary for upholding justice and the will of the people while pledging to continue to serve the people of his senatorial district and the nation with dedication and integrity.