Court Sacks Enugu PDP Fed Law Maker, Declares Labour Party Winner

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The National/State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Enugu has nullified the election of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Member Hon. Simon Atigwe representing Igboeze North/ Udenu Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives.

The Source reports that Hon Atigwe had emerged victorious in the February, 3, 2024, re- run polls ordered by an Appeal Court.

The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, declared Atigwe winner ,with a total of 23,863.

His closest rival, Hon Denis Agbo of the Labour Party LP, garnered 23,322 according to the electoral umpire.

But dissatisfied with the outcome of the re-run election, Hon Agbo petitioned the Tribunal, on the grounds that the re-run was marred by irregularities, alteration of results, substantial non-compliance with laid down rules, and other infractions.

In their verdict on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, the Panel led by  Justice H. N. Kunaza, while upholding the petition as  merited, also, declared LP’s Hon Agbo as the rightful winner of the re-run polls.

According to Panel, the petitioner won the election after securing 23,221 votes as ,against the 21,863 lawful votes polled by PDP’s Hon Atigwe.

The Panel voided  2000 votes from the 23,863 earlier recorded for Hon Atigwe by the INEC.

It held that the PDP candidate was not duly elected, going by the number of valid votes cast during the election.

Subsequently, the Tribunal ordered the INEC to withdraw the Certificate of Return earlier issued to Hon Atigwe, and issue same to the LP flag bear.

It will be recalled that Hon Agbo had won the earlier election of February 25 ,2023.

It was, however, nullified by the National/State Assembly Appeal Court sitting in Lagos, which ordered  a re-run.