The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, has affirmed the electoral triumph of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the Abia North Senatorial election that took place on February 25, 2023.
The court dismissed the petitions put forth by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mao Ohuabunwa, and Labour Party (LP) candidate, Nnamdi Iro Orji, challenging the legitimacy of Senator Kalu’s victory.
The judges, led by Justice Abiri JCA, upheld the judgment of the National Assembly Petitions Tribunal, Umuahia, which had previously rejected the petitions.
Emphasizing the adherence to the Electoral Act, the Court of Appeal declared that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had conducted the election in accordance with the stipulated provisions. The court found the petitioners’ claims of irregularities to be unsubstantiated and lacking in evidence.
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Additionally, the court dismissed the assertions made by the petitioners regarding the non-conduct of the election in over 120 polling units, primarily in Ohafia and Arochukwu Local Government Areas of the zone. These allegations were deemed baseless and without merit by the court.
Furthermore, the court rejected the Labour Party candidate’s argument that Senator Kalu should be disqualified due to a prior conviction for fraud. The court pointed out that the Supreme Court had nullified Kalu’s conviction, rendering him eligible to contest the election.
