Tribunal Upholds Election Of Labour Party Lawmaker In Anambra State 

The Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Awka, Anambra State, on Friday has affirmed the election of Honourable Victor Afam Ogene as the winner of the 2023 general election for Ogbaru Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

 

The judgment of the three man panel headed by Justice S. Y. Abubakar unanimously affirmed that Hon. Ogene who is also the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy, as the authentic winner of the election declared after a supplementary poll conducted on the 15th of April, 2023.

 

One of the three man panel, Justice B. M. Kucheri, who read the judgment on behalf of others declared that the petition brought by the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) Hon. Chukwuka Onyema lacked merit.

 

“This petition is lacking in merit and is accordingly dismissed. The election of Hon. Victor Afam Ogene is hereby affirmed by this tribunal,” Justice Kucheri declared.

 

While reviewing the petition the tribunal judges had dismissed Onyema’s claim that elections were not held in seven polling units of the federal constituency, saying that he didn’t lead evidence to substantiate or prove his claims.

 

The tribunal further dismissed the petitioner’s claim that Hon. Ogene was not a bona fide member of Labour Party under which platform he won the election as at the time he was nominated as candidate of the party.

 

Hon. Ogene was declared winner of the Ogbari federal constituency election by the Returning Officer Dr. Kingsley Uboji of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Awka, after the April 15th 2023 Supplementary election which was conducted following the declaration of the Federal Constituency polls inconclusive by the INEC on February 25, 2023 general elections.

 

Shortly after Justice Kucheri had delivered the judgment of the tribunal, two other members of the tribunal including the chairman, Justice S. Y. Abubakar and Justice I. O. Akinkugbe separately stated that they concurred with the judgment as delivered by Justice Kucheri.

 

In his reaction, member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, described the National Assembly Election Tribunal verdict as a “true validation of the will of the people and the undeniable grace of God.”

 

The INEC had declared the LP candidate Hon. Afam Ogene as winner after he score 10,851 votes of the total votes cast, followed by the candidate of the PDP who polled 10, 619 votes, while the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Hon. Arinze Awogu, came third with 10,155 votes.

 

The election in Ogbaru Federal Constituency was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission, after the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections.

 

As a result, a rerun election was held at the constituency on April 15, but unsatisfied with the result, Hon. Onyema, who had held three tenures of office, proceeded to the tribunal to challenge Ogene’s victory.

 

Ogene, who was so excited, expressed gratitude to God for the victory and grace to represent his constituents at the House of Representatives. He also thanked Ogbaru people and his teeming supporters for their selfless support, encouragement and prayers.

 

He said that this special victory would further energise him to continue to provide quality representation for the people. He extended hands of fellowship to the PDP candidate, and urged him to avoid the temptation of further judicial brickbats.

 

According to Hon.Ogene, “I want to specially appreciate God for His faithfulness in always ensuring that the light which He lit for the people would never be extinguished by the shenanigans of those who seek to exalt themselves against His will and His divine agenda for ndi Ogbahu.”

 

“I also want to sincerely appreciate the entire Ogbahu people, irrespective of political or social divides, for their steadfastness in working and praying for the good of Ogbahu. We are remarkably a peaceful people, and should not allow politics or personal interest of the political class or politically exposed people to divide or destroy us.

 

“Ogbaru Federal Constituency is not a private estate of anyone or group of individuals. Leadership positions are entrusted to individuals at a time, to work for, and protect the interest of the people. It should never be a do or die affair, because it is only God that determines who should lead the people at any given time.

 

“I have won election in the past. And I had also lost election in 2015 as an incumbent representative. But I just moved on and waited for God’s own time. I didn’t take my opponent to the court, because I considered that doing so would hurt the interest of Ogbaru as tribunal distractions would impact adversely on the quality of representation that the people deserve.”

 

“It is in this light that I pay glowing tribute to my brother and All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA candidate in the election, Comrade Arinze Awogu, for electing to align with the people’s will, by refusing to go to the Tribunal.”

 

“Ogbaru deserves the best and should demand for the best, but such legitimate aspiration would be jeopardised, should we continue to allow politics of acrimony to erode our oneness and the political space,” he stated.

 

He commended the people of Ogbaru, saying the victory will make them concentrate fully in the service of the people, while also appreciating the judiciary, whose judgement aligns with the will of the Ogbaru electorate.

 

 

Lateefah Ibrahim