Edo State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal has nullified the election of Hon Destiny Enabulele, member representing Ovia South West constituency, on the ground of non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 as amended.
The tribunal headed by Justice A.O Chijoke, consequently declared the APC candidate in the election, Hon. Sunday Aghedo as the rightful winner of the election.
It ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to withdraw the Certificate of Return earlier issued to Enabulele.
It would be recalled that after the inconclusive election in Ovia South West Constituency, and consequent upon the outcome of the April 15 rerun, INEC declared Enabulele the winner of the election after pulling total votes of 8,661 as against 7,946 votes of Aghedo.
Not satisfied with the INEC declaration, Aghedo and his party, APC dragged the electoral umpire, the former Ovia South West Local Government Council Chairman, Destiny Enabulele and his party PDP before the election petition tribunal.
The petitioners contended amongst others irregularities, malpractices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act as well as over-voting and invalid votes in the election.
The panel after perusing the documents submitted to it by parties and listening to the arguments canvassed by parties in the litigation, deducted 1000 votes from the votes accredited to Destiny Enabulele.
Justice Chijioke held that the deducted votes were invalid by way of corrupt practices, manipulation of figures and non-compliance with the 2022 electoral act.
Reacting to the judgement, the Cousel to Aghedo, Barr. Famous Osawaru lauded the judgement, describing it as a win for democracy.
He maintained that the petition was valid as the petitioners tendered all evidence and proved all allegations beyond reasonable doubt.
Meanwhile, the state Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal on Friday upheld the election of Honorable Natasha Osawaru of the People’s Democratic Party as the duly elected member representing Egor Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly.
The petitioner, Denrick Uhunwagho of the Labour Party in his petition alleged that the election was invalid and marred with electoral malpractices, which included result manipulation, violence, and non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
Justice M.U El-Mainari who read the judgement dismissed the petition for lacking in merits, noting that the petitioners failed to prove their cases beyond a reasonable doubt.
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