BREAKING: Tribunal dismisses APC, LP petitions, reaffirms Senator Ned Nwoko’s victory

Justice Catherine Ogunsanya, presiding over the National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal in Asaba, Delta State, delivered a significant verdict today, September 7. The Tribunal has upheld the election victory of Prince Ned Munir Nwoko of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 Delta North senatorial election, as previously declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The petitions challenging Nwoko’s victory were separately filed by Peter Nwaoboshi, the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), and Kenneth Kanma, the candidate of Labour Party (LP). Both parties argued that the electoral process that brought Nwoko to victory was flawed.

Nwaoboshi contented that the election was invalid by reason of noncompliance with the provision of the Electoral act 2022, with emphasis on improper accreditation of voters in polling units across the nine local government areas that made up the senatorial district.

Similarly, Kanma of Labour Party argued that Nwoko of PDP was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the election.

However, after a thorough examination of the evidence presented against Prince Ned Munir Nwoko, the three-member tribunal panel, led by Justice Catherine Ogunsanya, ruled in favor of the defendant, Ned Nwoko. They stated that the petitioners’ claims lacked merit and imposed a fine of N500,000 each against Kenneth Kanma of the LP, and Nwaoboshi of APC.

Following the Tribunal’s decision, Prince Ned Munir Nwoko has again been declared winner of the election and will continue to represent Delta North senatorial district in the Higher Chamber