In a significant ruling, the bye-election petition tribunal in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has annulled the election of Engr Simon Atigwe, who previously served as the House of Representatives member for the Igboeze North/Udenu Federal Constituency.
The tribunal has now declared Hon Dennis Agbo, the candidate of the Labour Party, as the rightful winner of the rerun election held on February 3rd, 2024.
Agbo had originally won his seat during the 2023 general election, but his victory was contested and subsequently nullified by the Court of Appeal, which ordered a rerun in ten polling units.
The challenge came from the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, who argued that the results from these polling units were incomplete due to the absence of APC’s scores.
Prior to the court-mandated rerun, Agbo was leading the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate by more than 10,000 votes. The tribunal’s decision to reaffirm Agbo’s victory underscores the legitimacy of his initial lead and the fairness of the rerun process.
This ruling reinstates Agbo as the representative for the Igboeze North/Udenu Federal Constituency and marks a significant victory for the Labour Party in the region. The decision is also likely to influence future political developments in Ebonyi State.
The tribunal’s verdict emphasizes the crucial role of thorough and equitable electoral procedures, ensuring that the true will of the people is both respected and upheld.
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