How Anambra politicians won and lost at the tribunal

-          As Gov Obiano loses constituency

The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunals sitting in Awka have since last week commenced the reading of judgments on all matters brought before them by aggrieved politicians challenging the victory of others.

As at the time of filling this story, several victories of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP have been upheld, while just as few have been reversed, just as a members each of both the PDP and the APGA have lost to their positions through the judgment of the court.

Last Friday, the tribunal started by stating its judgment which upheld the victory of the PDP candidate for Awka North and South Federal constituency, Hon Anayo Nnebe over Hon Godson Ezenagu, the petitioner.

In the matter between Mr Dozie Nwankwo of APGA for Anaocha, Njikoka, Dunukofia Federal constituency, and his PDP counterpart, Dr Okey Eze, the tribunal upturned the election of Eze, demanding that Nwankwo be handed a certificate of return immediately.

The case was however not the same as in Anambra Central Zone, where Chief Victor Umeh the former national chairman of the APGA lost his matter to Ekwunife of PDP, where the judges stated that Ekwunife was rightfully returned as the winner of the election.

Reacting to his victory while speaking with journalists, Ekwunife said she is sure she won Umeh in the said election and is sure to win again if a fresh election was to be conducted.

She also said that Umeh was aware of this, but decided to come to the tribunal in the hope that he will be able to buy the judges over. Chief Umeh was however not available for reactions to the allegation.

Still on the tribunal judgment, the court on Monday upturned the victory of Hon Peter Obiano Madubueze, said to be a brother of the Anambra state governor, Chief Willie Obiano on the platform of APGA, in favour of the candidate of the PDP, Chief Tony Nwoye for the Anambra East and West Federal constituency.

PDP’s Sopuluchukwu Ezeonwuka also beat APGA’s Hyger Igwebuike for Orumba North and South federal constituency; PDP won Ogbaru federal constituency as court dismissed the petition of former speaker, Chinwe Nwaebili sustaining the victory of PDP Hon Chu Onyema.

Similarly, PDP beat APGA in Aguata federal constituency, as tribunal upheld the victory of Hon Eucharia Anazodo of PDP against APGA’s Chuks Nwosu, just as Senator Stella Oduah of PDP won over APGA’s Dubem Obaze in Anambra North senatorial zone.

As at the time of filling this piece, several other judgments were expected to be read, including that of Anambra South Senatorial Zone where Senator Andy Ubah was dragged to the tribunal by his APGA counterpart and former NCC Vice Chairman, Ernest Ndukwe.

Already, most of the politicians who won have congratulated the  panels of judges for their forthrightness, just as those who lost have insisted that the panels are biased and were simply doing the PDP bidding by upturning APGA’s victory as well as dismissing their petitions against PDP.