Imo: Appeal Court Overturns Tribunal Judgement, Affirms Election Of Ugochinyere

Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere has been affirmed by the Lagos Division of the Appeal Court as the winner of the House of Representatives Election that was held in Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo State.

Naija News recalls that the election petition tribunal sitting in Mararaba High Court Abuja in September sacked Ugochinyere as the lawmaker respresenting the Ideato North and South Federal Constituency.

The tribunal directed that a new election be conducted in wards within the constituency between candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP).

Delivering its verdict, the tribunal judges held that Ugochinyere was unfit to contest the election considering that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, failed to conduct a primary election in the constituency.

However, in the latest development, the Appeal Court panel led by Justice Abubakar Babandi Gumel set aside the ruling of the Tribunal, which had sacked Ugochinyere.

Gumel, however, reversed the tribunal’s rulings in a unanimous decision on Wednesday. He clarified that the petition was a pre-election matter that was outside the purview of the tribunal to preside over.

Reacting to the ruling, Ugochinyere posted the appeal court verdict that affirmed his victory on his official X handle.