BY PETER OKUTU
Abakaliki—The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abakaliki, Wednesday, upheld the election of Chief Paulinus Igwe-Nwagu as senator representing Ebonyi Central senatorial zone on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The tribunal in its judgement, declared that the petitioner, Chief Innocent Ugo-Chima, of the All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP, had failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that there were irregularities during the election.

Justice Henry Oluseyi, Chairman of the tribunal ruled: “The petitioner thus failed to prove that the 1st respondent (Igwe-Nwagu), was not duly elected, hence the upholding of the declared result by INEC.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria, INEC, had declared Igwe-Nwagu winner of the senatorial election with a total of 55,016 votes against Ugo-Chima’s 41, 096 votes.

Ugo-Chima had in his petition, also joined INEC and the PDP as respondents, claiming that the 1st respondent was not duly elected on the grounds of irregularities committed during the poll, especially in Ikwo Local Government Area and seven other electoral wards in Ezza North and South local councils.

He had prayed the court to declare him the authentic winner of the election.

He said: “There were multiple thumb-printing with the use of palm kernels, kola nuts among other objects on the election day.”

The tribunal was, however, not satisfied with the submission, declaring that the election of Igwe-Nwagu was in order.

Reacting to the judgment, Ugo-Chima indicated that he would appeal against the decision of the tribunal.

Efforts to seek the reaction of Sen. Igwe-Nwagu failed as he was not immediately available for comment.