ENUGU—The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Enugu,headed by Justice M.O Adewara yesterday, adjourned for judgment,on the petition brought before it by former governor Chimaroke Nnamani,candidate of the Peoples Democratic Change,PDC,for the Enugu-East senatorial district election, conducted last March 28.
Nnamani is challenging the declaration by the Independent National Election Commission,INEC,of Senator Gil Nnaji,of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP,as winner at the poll.
The declaration by INEC had elicited protest from supporters of Nnamani in Enugu metropolis.
While adopting his final written address,Counsel to Nnamani, Mr. O. Jolaawo told the court that,”two issues are distilled at page 3 of our address. We adopt the said address in its entirety and urge the court to grant the prayers sought in this petition per page 18 of our petition.
“The sustenance of grounds one and two or any of them or even of the second part of ground two thereof which is disjunctive is enough for your lordships to grant, at the very least, the relief of nullification.
“Respondents are making heavy weather of the fact that we did not bring evidence of place where we won the election or where INEC declared us as winner. This argument is extremely disconcerting and incredulous. The purpose of a petition is to challenge our loss at the election. Paragraph 15 of the first schedule to the Electoral Act also supports our position.
“Petitioner was able to prove through the respondents, witnesses, RW1 to RW7, that substantial irregularities occurred in Isi-Uzo through RW1, through RW2 for Nkanu East, RW3 cross examination for Enugu South. RW4 was senatorial collation but under cross examination, gave evidence with respect to Enugu East and presidential election irregularities vis a vis senatorial accreditation. RW5 conceded to numerous and substantial irregularities and non-compliance with the electoral act in Isi-Uzo where she served as Electoral Officer.
“Also RW6 did so too with respect to Nkanu East, which substantially affected the results of the election and RW7 also did same for Enugu North.”
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