The National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal convened in Enugu has invalidated the victory of Honorable Okey Mbah, a candidate from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in the March 18 House of Assembly election for Nkanu East constituency.
The ruling, delivered on Friday, came as a result of a petition filed by the Labour Party candidate, Surv. Okwudiri Nnaji, challenging the declaration of Mbah as the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The three-member tribunal panel, led by Honourable Justice Adie Attoe Onyebueke, determined that the electoral process failed to meet the stipulations outlined in the 2022 Electoral Act. Notably, the tribunal found discrepancies in the number of votes cast compared to the registered and accredited voters in specific polling units within Ugbawka and Owo wards.
As a remedy, the tribunal has mandated a rerun election in the affected polling units. INEC has been directed to organize this rerun within a 90-day timeframe. This decision underscores the importance of upholding the integrity of electoral processes and ensuring that they adhere to established legal standards.
