An Appeal Court in Lagos has confirmed Senator Orji Uzor Kalu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as the winner of the Abia North Senatorial District election.
The appellate court on Monday dismissed petitions filed by Nnamdi Iro Orji (Opotoyom) of the Labour Party and Mao Ohuabunwa of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The court ordered that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s conviction under Section 66 of the Nigerian Constitution was invalid since it had been invalidated.
The Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, the state capital had earlier upheld the victory Orji Uzor Kalu.
Justice Samson Paul-Gang who led other three wise men in its unanimous ruling on Tuesday, September 12, dismissed the petition of Peoples Democratic Party’s and Labour Party’s for lacking merit.
The court while ruling said that the election of the former Senate Chief Whip compiled with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The judges faulted the arguments of the petitioners that election did not hold in over 120 polling units especially Ohafia and Arochukwu Local Government Areas of the zone.
Equally, the appellate validated Kalu’s eligibility to contest the election, saying that his trial and conviction was quashed by the supreme court.
