WARRI — Substituted candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the October 25, 2014 local government polls in Delta State, Mr Weyinmi Omadeli, has asked the election tribunal sitting in Warri, Delta State, to order the removal of Mr George Ekpemupolo as the elected Chairman of Warri South-West Local Government Area, insisting that he (Omadeli) was the validly nominated candidate of the part for the polls.

The tribunal is chaired by C. O. Oloke.

Omadeli in a petition challenging the election of Ekpemupolo, is further praying the tribunal to declare the Certificate of Return issued to Ekpemupolo by the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, as null and void, as same ought to have been issued to him (Omadeli) as the validly nominated candidate of the PDP.

Arguing that he never had any formal notification of his purported substitution by the PDP and DSIEC, Omadeli contended that the name of Ekpemupolo was not published anywhere by the PDP and DSIEC, adding that the votes purportedly credited to Ekpemupolo on the election day were for him.

Meanwhile, following the absence of Ekpemupolo and his counsel at the hearing in the case, the tribunal has directed that hearing notice be served on Ekpemupolo by substituted means or by advertisement in any newspaper circulating within the jurisdiction of the court before the next sitting on December 12, 2014.