Appeal Court Decision: Rep Esin’s Election Victory Endorsed, APC Candidate Fined N500,000

The Court of Appeal, situated at the National Industrial Court Complex in Lagos State, has upheld the decision of the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Akwa Ibom State…CONTINUE READING....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

affirming Martins Esin’s victory as the House of Representatives member for the Oron/Mbo/Okobo/Udung Uko/Urueoffong Oruko Federal Constituency in the February 2023 elections.

A three-member panel of judges also imposed a cost of five hundred thousand naira on the appellant in favor of each respondent, which includes Esin, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Robinson Edumoh of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was defeated in the February elections, had contested the election outcome and took the respondents to the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal.

The tribunal, presided over by Justice Kudirat Jose, dismissed Edumoh’s petition on September 1, 2023, stating that the petitioner failed to substantiate any of his claims regarding over-voting, the absence of electronic result transmission, widespread irregularities, and non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

Unsatisfied with the tribunal’s ruling, the APC candidate appealed to the higher court, requesting a reversal of the tribunal’s decision.

In delivering the judgment, the Court of Appeal stated, “The panel found no valid reason to overturn the decision of the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, which confirmed the PDP candidate, Esin, as the legitimate winner of the election; as a result, the lower court’s judgment is upheld.

“A cost of Five Hundred Thousand Naira is hereby awarded in favor of each respondent, including Hon. Martins Esin, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), against the appellant.”