Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The National Assembly Elections Petition tribunal sitting in Umuahia, Tuesday, validated the election of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, and member representing Bende Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu (APC).
Candidate of Labour Party, Chief Frank Chinasa, had filed a petition seeking to nullify the election of Kalu who was declared winner of the February 25 election for Bende federal constituency.
He alleged that Kalu did not win the majority of the lawful votes cast in the election and urged the court to nullify his victory.
The Petitioner also alleged that there were discrepancies in the various names of the 1st Respondent.
But after the perusal of all the arguments by the parties in the suit, the three man tribunal, in a unanimous judgment read by its Chairman, Justice Samson Paul Gang, dismissed the petition for lack of merit.
Meanwhile the tribunal is currently on another petition filed against the Deputy Speaker, by the candidate of the Action Alliance, Mr Ifeanyi Igbokwe.
Igbokwe had through his lawyers, claimed that his party’s logo and name were excluded on the ballot.
Details later….
