By VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA—THE Anambra State Election Petition Tribunal headed by Justice G.K. Kayama has declared Mrs. Uche Ekwunife of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, representing Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia federal constituency, winner of the rescheduled House of Representatives election held in the state early this year.

This came as another tribunal headed by Justice Angelina Salihu upheld the election of the candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, for Idemili South state constituency, Mr. Ebele Obi.

Delivering the judgment, the tribunal said the petitioner, Mr. Dozie Nwankwo of ACN, failed to prove alleged electoral malpractices during the election and substantial non compliance of the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended.

According to the tribunal, the petition by the ACN candidate lacked merit and therefore stood dismissed.

Elated Ekwunife said after the judgment that the victory was for the masses who voted for her and APGA during the election.

She said: “I hail the courage and uprightness of the judges. People should advise my opponent to allow me concentrate at the National Assembly because these petitions were distractions. I also want him to know that if this election is held one million times, I will continue to win.”

However, another tribunal headed by Justice Angelina Salihu upheld the election of the candidate of ACN for Idemili South state constituency, Mr. Ebele Obi.

In the case of Mr. Ebele Obi, the APGA candidate, Mr. Tony Ezekwelu had challenged the declaration of ACN candidate by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging irregularities in some wards during the rerun election.

The affected wards, according to the APGA candidate, were in Nnobi, Alor, Oba, Awka-Etiti and Ojoto.