Three House of Representatives lawmakers elected on Labour Party (LP) platform from Abia State have lost their seats as the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission should conduct another election.
The three members of the lower chamber of the National Assembly secured their seats on the platform of the Labour Party. The decision of the court has now reduced the number of seats the party has in the chamber.
The tribunal, which Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe leads, sacked the representative from Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency, Mr Ibe Okwara Osunwa. The court said that there was non-compliance with the electoral act 2022. The All Progressives Congress and its candidate Daniel Okeke had approached the court for redress.
The tribunal sitting in Umuahia, Abia State capital, ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return and give a new one to Okeke.
The tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Osunwa and issue a new one to Okeke.
Another tribunal had asked the electoral commission to conduct another election following the sack of
Munachim Alozie, who represents Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbo Federal Constituency.
The tribunal argued that the candidate of Labour Party was erroneously declared winner by the commission. The election must hold in the next 90 days.
Lastly, a third tribunal has declared as null and void the election that brought in Emeka Nnamani of LP to the House of Representatives. He represents Abia North and South Federal Constituency.
The court agreed that Nnamani forged his certificate and sacked him. The first runnerup Alex Ikwueche of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was declared as the winner and the tribunal ordered INEC to issue a certificate of return to the APGA candidate.
Peter Obi’s LP has lost some other seats in Enugu State to other political parties.
