Ebonyi State: Court Quashes APGA, PDP Petitions Against Governor Nwifuru

The Ebonyi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has dismissed the petitions filed by both the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and its governorship candidate, Prof. Benard Odoh; and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Chief Odii, challenging the election of Nwifuru as governor.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Nwifuru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the 18th March 2023 governorship election in the state.

Not satisfied with the declaration, Prof. Odoh approached the Court to overturn the Ebonyi governor’s election on the grounds of non-qualification.

Odoh had argued through his lawyer, Jibrin Okutepa, that Nwifuru, “who was until and after the election, a member of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly and also occupied the office of the Speaker of the House, under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), was not qualified to contest the election to the seat of Governor of Ebonyi State.”

Consequently, APGA and Odoh urged the Tribunal to nullify Mr Nwifuru’s victory on account of his non-qualification for the election.

However, delivering judgment on the petition on Wednesday, the three-member panel, headed by Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, held that the petitioners lacked the locus standi to institute the action because the issue was an internal affair of the APC.

Meanwhile, Governor Nwifuru has extended the olive branch to the governorship candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Ifeanyi Odii, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof. Benard Odoh in the March 18 polls, to halt further litigations against him and join hands with his administration to develop the state.

He made the appeal on Wednesday at his office in Abakaliki, while addressing newsmen on the outcome of the Ebonyi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, that reaffirmed his declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the duly elected governor of the state.

He commended the tribunal judges for their forthrightness in dispensing justice based on the rule of law.

“This judgement by the tribunal is a victory for democracy,  the court remains the last hope of the common man.

“I am not against anybody for instituting petition against mh victory at the polls.

“I pleaded with the petitioners that contested election against me to come and let us work together.

“I begged APGA and Prof. Benard Odoh to join hands with me in developing the state. I pleaded with him not to proceed with more litigations. We are working day and night to deliver the much needed democratic dividends to our people.

“I equally urged the PDP governorship candidate, Chief Ifeanyi Odii, to bring his ideas and manifestoes so that we can build the state together,” Nwifuru added.

He commended his legal team lead by Ikpeazu, Roy Umahi, A. Ibrahim, and others for their ingenuity in protecting the course of justice.