National and State Election Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, Abia state has upheld the victory of the member representing Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency in Abia State House of Assembly (ABHA), Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis, elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stating that that the petition brought before it by the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Mr. Ubani Chimezie Dannie lacked merit.
In a unanimous judgement on Monday, October 2, 2023, the three-man panel said the petitioners were unable to prove their points and dismissed their petition for lacking merit.
The INEC had declared Hon. Dennis, winner of the March 18, 2023, House of Assembly election.
Dissatisfied by the declaration, Dannie who came second in the election approached the tribunal, seeking the annulment of the election which he said was fraught by irregularities and substantial non compliance with the Electoral Act.
According to the tribunal, the petitioner failed to prove before the court how the election was rigged and subsequently dismissed the suit.
Speaking with our reporter, Hon. Dennis described his victory at the Election Petition Tribunal as a triumph for democracy and victory to Ndi Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency. According to him, the judgement was a clear testimony of the fact that the nation’s judiciary remains unbiased, adding, the judgement is a welcomed development to people of Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency and all lovers of democracy within and outside Nigeria.
He further called on his opponent, to join hands to move Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency forward.
In his words: “Our doors are still open to all wishing to collaborate with us in moving our Constituency forward. Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency is for all of us, so we have to work together to make it better”.
