The Court of Appeal, Owerri Division, sitting in Lagos, has affirmed Erondu Uchenna Erondu Jr’s election to the Abia State House of Assembly as the member representing Obingwa West Constituency.
The Appeal Court denied the petition brought before it by the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Mrs Victoria Onwubiko, challenging the lawmaker’s election as lacking merit.
The court ruled unanimously on Saturday that the petitioner failed to prove that the election that produced Erondu Jnr was plagued by over-voting and voter discontent.
Onwubiko, who asked the court to re-conduct elections in 82 Polling Units (PUs), said that certain people were denied the right to vote.
However, the petitioner’s pleas were denied by the Appeal Court, which determined that she did not present any evidence on alleged voter disenfranchisement, and that her lawyer’s address could not be considered as evidence in court.
The Appellate Court further ruled that the petitioner failed to invite the affected voters to appear before the tribunal to demonstrate that they were barred from voting on election day.
In response to the ruling, the lawmaker’s lead counsel, Hagler Okorie, praised the court for ensuring that justice prevailed against all odds, calling the decision a win for democracy.
In his remarks, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s counsel, Emeka Eze, praised the tribunal for ensuring that justice won in the case and stated that the ruling was a win for the rule of law.
Meanwhile, Erondu Jnr, Chairman of the House Committee on Public Services, has praised the decision, calling it a win for democracy and his citizens, whose mandate he holds holy.
He praised the court for the decision and thanked his constituents for sticking with him while the case was being heard in court.
The politician from Uhie swore not to disappoint his constituents.
