By Adadareporters
It was a mixed outing for the Labour Party at Saturday’s
National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Enugu as the court affirmed the election of LP’s Hon Harrison Ogara representing Igbo-Eze South State Constituency in the state assembly.
Tochukwu Ozioko of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had petitioned the tribunal challenging the eligibility of the LP candidate to contest the election held on March 18.
Ozioko alleged that Ogara did not properly resign from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as at the time of the election. Aside resigning, the petitioner claimed forgery as well as election malpractices against Ogara.
The tribunal, led by justice A.M. Abubakar, dismissed the petition on the ground that it is the duty of a political party to choose its candidate.
The tribunal also held that the petitioner did not prove the case of forgery and irregularities beyond reasonable doubt, and therefore struck out the case
The counsel to Ogara, Boniface Ugwu, said, “The judgements were clear and unambiguous. The judge relied on judgements of the Supreme Court which cannot be objected to.”
However, it was not the same sublime victory for LP as its member representing Udenu State Constituency, Mr Obinna Ijere, was sacked on the ground that he did not resign his position as a staff member of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, before contesting.
His election’s nullification followed the petition filed by Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Mr Solomon Onah. Onah is the current local government chairman of Udenu Local Government Area.
Little known Ijere caused an upset when he outwitted favoured Onah who, aside being an LG chairman and favourite of then Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, was a two-time commissioner in the Ugwuanyi administration.
Our correspondent reports that LP broke the jinx of PDP in the state by winning 14 state assembly slots while PDP got 10.
