Enugu, Nigeria. -National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal Upholds Dennis Agbo’s Victory in Enugu State
In a recent ruling by the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Enugu, the victory of Dennis Agbo, representing the Labour Party (LP), as the duly elected member representing Igbo-eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency of Enugu State, has been upheld. The tribunal, led by Justice Legor T. Senewo, dismissed a petition brought before it by Obiageli Ajih, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25 House of Representatives contest.
Ajih’s petition sought to nullify Agbo’s election on several grounds, including irregularities and corruption, non-compliance with the electoral law (omission of her party in Form EC8a), and the claim that Agbo was not a member of the LP at the time of the election.
However, the tribunal ruled that the petitioner failed to substantiate the alleged irregularities. Regarding Agbo’s alleged non-membership of the LP, Justice Senewo stated that the petitioner lacked the standing to question the internal affairs of another party, emphasizing that issues of membership, substitution, nomination, and sponsorship of a candidate to an election fall under the purview of pre-election matters and were outside the tribunal’s jurisdiction.
Addressing the third ground of the petition, which pertained to non-compliance with the Electoral Law, Justice Senewo concluded that the declaration had been made in compliance with the Electoral Act.
Following the tribunal’s decision, Dennis Agbo expressed his gratitude and described the ruling as an affirmation of his popular mandate to represent the people of Igboeze North/Udenu Federal Constituency.
Agbo, who wasted no time in getting to work, pledged to maintain the same level of dedication he has shown since taking office. He stated, “I remember the kind of mandate they’ve given to me; I don’t lose sight of it even for a second, and it’s a popular and sacred mandate that swam against the tide and it was an overwhelming victory. That being the case, I will work for them day and night, this mandate is worth losing sleep for, and they know what I have already started, and the results are showing.”
The ruling by the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal brings a conclusion to this chapter of the electoral process, solidifying Dennis Agbo’s position as the representative of Igbo-eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency in Enugu State.
