Abia tribunal sacks two LP federal lawmakers

.Upholds elections of LP, PDP reps 

National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Umuahia, Abia State, yesterday, nullified the elections of two Labour Party (LP) House of Representatives members for Arochukwu/Ohafia Constituency, Ibe Osonwa, and his Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbo counterpart, Munachim Alozie.

The panel chaired by Justice Aderebigbe Adeyinka, while ruling that Osonwa’s election did not comply with the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act, declared his APC rival, Daniel Okeke, as the winner in the February 25, 2023 election.

It ordered a re-run of the Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbo election.

Another tribunal chaired by Justice Hajaratu Lawal, same day, upheld the election of LP member for Isiala Ngwa North/South Constituency, Ginger Onwusibe, and dismissed the petitions filed by his APC and PDP rivals in the election, Chijioke Ikpo and Anthony Agbazuere, respectively, on ground that Agbazuere’s petition was a pre-election matter, which was time-barred for hearing by the tribunal.

The panel also upheld the election of PDP member for Ukwa East/West constituency, Chris Nkwonta.