The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on February 28, declared LP’s Nnamani winner with 35502 votes against APGA’s Ikwechegh and incumbent, PDP’s Chimaobi Ebisike who scored 22,465 and 13388 votes respectively.
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Dissatisfied with the outcome, Ikwechegh, Ebisike and their parties approached the tribunal. Whilst the PDP & Ebisike hinged their Petitions on the membership of Nnamani as well as suppressed votes, Ikwechegh & APGA had challenged the academic qualifications of the declared winner.
On Monday, the Appeal Court dismissed the petitions of the PDP & Ebisike.
It can be recalled that Nnamani who originally hails from Enugu State but resides in Aba, had contested the PDP Primaries for House of Assembly in Enugu and at the same time another Abia House of Assembly seat under the APGA in 2015.
In 2015, Having been elected to represent Aba North State Constituency under APGA in the Abia House of Assembly, he was dragged to the tribunal by Dr. Blessing Nwagba then of the PDP (and now 2023 APC Abia South Senatorial Candidate).
In October 2015, the Justice S. Yahuzu-led tribunal sacked Nnamani for not been a card-carrying member of APGA at the time and asked the Police to investigate his alleged forged Certificate from UNIPORT following a disclaimer by the then Registrar of the Institution that he (Nnamani) didn’t graduate from the University of Port Harcourt.
The Appeal Court in December 2015 upheld his sack and allegedly banned him from future elections.
On 11th September 2023, owing to the decision by the Court in 2015, the Justice Adeyinka Adebayo Aderibigbe-led panel sacked Nnamani from the 10th Assembly and upheld the first runner-up, Ikwechegh.
Nnamani & the LP had challenged the tribunal decision before the Appeal Court, the final Court in these matters who unanimously dismissed the appeal.
The Appeal Court ordered INEC to immediately withdraw the Certificate issued to Nnamani and issue same to Ikwechegh as duly elected and returned.
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