Tribunal upholds Ebonyi gov’s election

Clement Oko Nnachi, Abakaliki - 30.11.2007

The National Assembly/Governorship and House Election Tribunal, sitting in Abakaliki, on Thursday upheld the election of the Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Martin Elechi.

Delivering judgment in a petition filed by Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), the Tribunal Chairman, Hon. Justice Chioma Iheme Nwosu, said that the petition was dismissed due to the failure of the petitioners to prove the allegations of falsification of results, intimidation, electoral malpractices, and non-compliance with the Electoral act, and other sundry issues beyond reasonable doubt.

According to the tribunal chairman, the petitioner called 46 witnesses and tendered 305 exhibits, while the respondents called 13 witnesses, stating that the tribunal was able to establish the fact, that actually there was governorship election in Ebonyi State on 14 April, 2007 conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Justice Nwosu contended that the non-conduct of the election in Ohaozara Local Government Area, as alleged by the petitioner, was not enough to invalidate the entire governorship election held in the remaining 12 local governments areas of the state.

She said, “that the evidence laid by the petitioner, fall beyond the proof of law, some of the witnesses, contradicted themselves during cross examination.”

In a swift reaction, Governor Martin Elechi, who spoke through his press secretary, Dr. Onyekachi Eni, said that by the judgment, the judiciary had acquitted itself most creditably as a platform for justice and the sustenance of the rule of law.