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Anambra Central: dismisses petition against Umeh

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The Anambra Central Senatorial Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka has struck out a petition challenging the victory of Sen. Victor Umeh in the Jan. 13 Anambra senatorial rerun election.

The Tribunal made up of Justices H. A. Olusiyi, chairman; A. O. Ayoola, member 1 and A. U. Birnin Kudu, member 2 dismissed the five reliefs sought by the petitioner as lacking merit and his inability to proof his case.
The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were joined in the petition as second and third respondents.

Nkem Ekweozoh Esq., candidate of Mega Peoples Progressives Party (MPPP) sought the voidance of Umeh's victory on the grounds that he was not duly elected by majority of valid votes cast at the election.

Ekweozoh in his petition also counted that the victory was invalid because it was fraught with corrupt practices and substantial non compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act and that the election be nullified.

"Each of the five issues for determination is resolved in the negative against the petitioner as we find no merit whatsoever in the election petition dated and filed on Feb. 22, 2018 which is hereby dismissed in entirety.

"We affirm as valid the election and return of the first respondent as the senator representing Anambra Central District in the National Assembly following the election conducted by the third respondent on Jan. 13, 2018," he concluded. 
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