The Election Petitions Tribunal for Ebonyi State, located in Abuja, is set to announce its judgment on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. This significant announcement was confirmed by Henry Nwior, the Tribunal’s Secretary, who disclosed that proceedings would commence promptly at 9 am…CONTINUE READING
The tribunal’s primary focus will be to rule on two petitions challenging the election of Governor Francis Nwifuru in Ebonyi State. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Governor Nwifuru as the victor of the election held on March 18.
Nwifuru secured a total of 199,131 votes across the state’s 13 Local Government Areas, surpassing his closest contender, Dr. Chukwuma Ifeanyi Odii of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 80,191 votes. Subsequently, INEC issued Nwifuru a Certificate of Return as Governor-elect, and he was sworn in as Governor on May 29, 2023.
However, Dr. Odii, his party (PDP), and the second runners-up, Bernard Odoh, representing the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), contested the election results and brought their grievances before the tribunal.
Odoh’s petition challenges Nwifuru’s eligibility on the grounds of certificate forgery and dual party membership. He contends that Nwifuru, at the time of the election, remained a member of the PDP and was thus ineligible to be sponsored by the APC.
Furthermore, Odoh alleges that Nwifuru submitted fraudulent certificates to INEC. As a result, he calls upon the tribunal to nullify the gubernatorial election in Ebonyi State that took place on March 18, 2023.
Mr. Odoh additionally implores the tribunal to invoke Section 179(3) and (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) to order a new election for the Governor of Ebonyi State.
