Asaba/Nigeria: The Election Tribunal sitting in Asaba, had dismissed the case filled by Mr. David Ochonogor of the All Progressive Congress, APC against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which joined the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and the winner of the 2019 House of Assembly Election of Ukwuani Constituency, Rt. Hon Christopher Ochor Ochor.
In delivering the Judgement, the three man panel headed by Mr. E. E. D Ngele, ruled that the case was a pre election one, and the APC in the election fielded a candidate for the election, in answering the question if the petitioner was unlawfully excluded from the ballot.
The panel stated that before the petitioner got his judgement in the Supreme Court as the rightful candidate for the APC, the election had already been conducted and a winner declared, as such he cannot comeback to the tribunal to restore back his candidacy as a result of unlawful exclusion. This is because the law allows for electoral process to either run from the regular court to Supreme Court or from the Tribunal to the Appeal court.
It could be recalled that prior to the 2019.election, the APC had faction issues, which led to multiple candidate in the state, but however, the Supreme Court gave judgement in his favour as a the rightful candidate of APC, instead of Mr. Eze Omolu.
Meanwhile, the camp of the Deputy Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, and been thrown into joy, and Rt. Hon Christopher Ochor Ochor calling the judgement a laudable one as the panel in their wisdom had ruled that the judgement, that Mr. David Ochonogor received in his favour was after the elections had been conducted and won.
Rt. Hon Ochor said with the judgement his faith in the judiciary had been further confirmed, as he equally used the occasion to call on the petitioner to join had to move the state constituency forward. He thanked his teeming supporters for having faith in him, and expects better representation from him.
Commenting on the Judgement, Mr. Chukwuemeke Osemeke, said the ruling was a justice for the common man. He stated that the winner of the 2019 election, Rt. Hon Christopher Ochor Ochor cannot suffer for the pain the petitioner suffered from his party, the APC.
