Election Tribunal: Umeh Presents Polls Papers, Nwankwo Returns July 30

UMEH-VICTOR — APGA National chairman, Umeh

THE immediate past national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, yesterday at the Anambra State Elections Petitions Tribunal One, sitting in Awka and presided over by Justice Nayai Aganaba, has presented documents to validate his claim to victory during the last poll.

Umeh, the Anambra Central Senatorial candidate of APGA contested against the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate in the last general election, Senator Uche Ekwunife.

Meanwhile, the tribunal has adjourned till July 30 for the continuation of hearing in the matter brought by Mr. Dozie Nwankwo, also of APGA and Dr Okey Eze of the PDP challenging the declaration of Eze as winner of the March 28 election. Nwankwo insisted he won overwhelmingly.

Before the adjournment, Nwankwo’s principal witness (the PW 1), Samuel Oraegbunam was cross-examined by counsels to the PDP and Eze respectively.

The PW 1 disclosed he was able to monitor and observe the proceedings of the election in spite of restriction of movement on that day because he got the permit from INEC to move round so that he could perform his duty as Constituency Coalition Officer.

He debunked the claim that he relied on hearsay for his submissions, noting that his position is based on documents made available to him by other agents.

He alleged that the forgery to manipulate the process was done at the ward and local government levels by the officers of the first and second respondents (Eze and PDP). Oreagbunam however said that if the ballot were properly counted, it would reflect the true votes cast, which was won by Nwankwo.

Responding to a question on the reason for alterations on one of the result sheets, the PW 1 said that there was a mathematical error in that particular document but added quickly that the agents of APGA, PDP and APC signed the corrected version which he noted was enough authentication of the document.

Earlier, the tribunal had admitted into evidence polls documents submitted by Nwankwo after cross-examination by the PDP and her candidate, Eze. The presentation and cross-examination of other witnesses would continue on July 30.