The Chairman,
Election petition tribunal sitting in Awka, Justice Nahiya Aganaba has dismissed the leave sought by counsel of the petitioner Chief Victor Umeh to further
cross-examined the returning officer in Anambra Central senatorial zone
election. Dr. Pius Okoye on grounds of ambiguity and alteration alleged to have
occurred in the collation results of Oba ward 1 in Idemili North local
government area Of Anambra state.
Delivering his ruling,
justice Aganaba regarded it as a fresh motion that could be directed to the
returning officer of Idemili Local Government area or the Ward collation
officer of the March 28h National Assembly election.
Earlier in his
the cross examination, counsel to the petitioner, Mr. Patrick Ikwueto (SAN) had
sought the leave of the court to impress it on the Dr. Pius Okoye, INEC
returning officer for Anambra Central senatorial election to address alleged
alteration and ambiguity in the collation results form EC8A1 against what was
recorded in INEC form EC8B as evidence to buttress the claims of inflation of
figures to favour the 4th respondent being Senator Uche Ekwunife.
In his counter argument
to the petitioner’s request, counsel to Senator Uche Ekwunife, Mr. Peter Ezeh
had requested the court to limit the examination to parties directly involve in
the collation of results and averred that the Anambra central collation officer
should be absorbs from answering question which he is not directly connected
with.
Justice Aganaba
however upheld the leave sought by counsel to the 4th respondent and
adjourned till 28th of July for continue hearing of the petition
brought before the tribunal by the former All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh,
challenging the March 28th National Assembly election result that produced Senator Uche Ekwunife as the
winner for the Anambra central senatorial zone.
