The court of appeal sitting in Enugu yesterday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh election within 90 days in Anambra central senatorial zone after nullifying the election of the senator representing the zone, Mrs Uche Ekwunife.
The three-man panel led by Justice A.H. Yahya, nullified the March 28 election of Ekwunife and upheld the appeal brought before the court by the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh challenging the judgment of the lower tribunal that had earlier upheld Ekwunife’s election.
“The perverse decision of the lower tribunal cannot stand. This appeal stands and the INEC is hereby ordered to conduct fresh election in Anambra central senatorial zone within 90 days,” the court ruled.
The elections of the deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, (Enugu West), Senator Andy Uba (Anambra South), Obinna Ogba (Ebonyi Central) and Senator Gil Nnaji (Enugu East) were earlier upheld by the court.
While upholding the election of Senator Nnaji, the court disagreed with the judgment of the lower tribunal which had last month ordered INEC to conduct fresh election within 90 days .
The lower court nullified the election of Gil Nnaji following a petition filled by a former governor of Enugu State, Senator Chimaraoke Nnamani, challenging the declaration of Nnaji as the winner of the March 28 national assembly election. Nnamani had alleged that the exercise was fraught with irregularities.
A former national chairman of the All Progressives Grand alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, who reacted to the judgment, expressed appreciation to the appeal court for dispensing justice without fear or favour.
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