Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Enugu State National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Enugu has dismissed the petition filed by former Giver of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for February 25, National Assembly election.
Nnamani was defeated by Sen. Kelvin Chukwu of the Labour Party for Nkanu East Federal Constituency of Enugu State.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Chukwu as the winner of the Enugu East Senatorial district after he polled over 69,000 against the PDP candidate, who got about 49,000 votes.
In his petition, Nnamani alleged that the election was marred by over-voting, irregularities, election malpractices and non-compliance with the electoral guidelines.
He asked the tribunal to declare him the authentic winner of the election.
Delivering its ruling on Wednesday, the tribunal upheld Senator Kelvin Chukwu’s victory.
The tribunal also awarded a cost of N500,000 against the petitioners in favour of the three respondents, Kelvin Chukwu, Labour Party and INEC.
The three-man panel led by Justice Nusirat I. Umar unanimously dismissed the petition for being vague, lacking in merit, incompetent, generic and academic exercise.
