Tribunal Dismisses Petition Against Council Chairman

THE Delta State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal has dismissed a petition challenging the election of Chief Isaac Anwuzia, as Chairman of Aniocha South local government in the October 25, 2014 council election in the State.

In his judgment last week, in Asaba, the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice M.C Unuwovo said the petitioner failed to prove his case before the tribunal.

He remarked that the case of the petitioner was lacking in merit on all the five grounds, including tax payment, age and educational qualification, insisting that the respondent was not a public officer as at the time he contested and won the election.

Unuwovo also dismissed the issue of form 001 of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC), saying the tribunal was convinced beyond reasonable doubt that Anwuzia complied fully with all the requirements of the electoral Act for the conduct of the said election and therefore dismissed the petition accordingly.

The lead counsel to the first respondent, Barrister Gene Mowah supported by Barrister Anthony Okeibuno and two others, had asked the tribunal to dismiss the petition on the ground that the petitioners’ address was incompetent.

Reacting to the judgment, the second respondent, Honourable Steve Asikaiwili described the judgment as victory to God and advancement of democracy.

The petitioner Mr. Chiedu Onwuadiamu had gone to the tribunal to challenge the election of Anwuzia, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as chairman of the council, on the ground that he was not qualified to contest the election.