Barely 24 hours after the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal nullified the election of the Senator Representing Abia North Senatorial District Senator Orji Uzor Kalu,the grounds appears not to be favourable for the former Abia State Governor.
The three-man Panel of the National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Umuahia,had on Monday, 9th September, 2019, invalidated the victory of the Senator representing Abia North Senatorial Zone in the National Assembly, describing his earlier victory as a “hoax.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Cornelius Akintayo,while ruling on the matter in a suit filed before it by Senator Mao Arukwe Ohuabunwa, hinted that the election which was conducted on the 23rd of February,2019, was marred by massive rigging, none compliance with electoral guidelines, as well over voting which characterized the poll.
Justice Akintayo, explained that evidences abound shows that the number of over voting was in excess of more than ten thousand(10,000),votes,stressing that the results collated in polling units in the following Wards of Isu, Eleoha, Arochukwu 1, Arochukwu 2 and 3 and Ohafia Local Government, were not entered in the form EC8A by INEC officials.
He however, said that INEC in its witnesses, failed to show concrete evidence why results in the entire Arochukwu LGA Ohafia LGA and some units across the Senatorial district were not collated.
The Presiding Judge, therefore, ruled that the declaration of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu is invalid by reason of non compliance with electoral guidelines in the conduct of the election.
Continuing, he declared that elections in Isu ward, Eleoha, Arochukwu ward 1,2 and 3 in Arochukwu LGA as well as Ndiagbo Nkporo polling units such as unit 10, and Ndielu Nkporo polling unit;01,2,3,4 and 5 all in Ohafia LGA have been nullified and ordered INEC to conduct fresh election in the affected areas within 90 days.
Some Cabals within the ruling All Progressive Congress is said to be pleased with the outcome of the Tribunal verdict in the case of the Former Abia Governor whom the cabals declared to be too ambitious.
Apart from the cabals,it was further gathered that the former Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu is pressing hard to ensure that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu is not returned to the Senate to avoid any problems ahead of the 2023 Presidential Election.
