Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The House of Representatives tribunal on Rerun Election, sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State on Wednesday, dismissed the member representing Igboeze North/Udenu Federal Constituency, Hon. Simon Atigwe.
It would be recalled that Atigwe, a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was declared winner of the rerun election held on February 3rd, 2024.
The Independent National Election Commission (INEC), declared Atigwe the winner of the election having polled 23863 votes as against Hon. Dennis Agbo of the Labour Party (LP), who scored 23226 votes.
However, Hon. Agbo, whose election was earlier nullified in some polling units over irregularities in the February 25, 2023 election went to the tribunal arguing that the election was marred by wrong computation of results, substantial non-compliance to the electoral act among others.
Ruling on the matter on Wednesday, the Tribunal headed by Justice H N Kunaza said that the petition had merit and declared Rt. Hon. Dennis Nnamdi Agbo the actual winner of Igbo Eze North/ Udenu Federal constituency.
Justice Kunaza’s panel declared invalid, null and void the 2000 votes added to the PDP candidate and restored the votes of 25th February 2023 of 14229 for the PDP and 28870 for the LP candidate Rt Hon Dennis Agbo.
