Appeal court orders fresh election in Imo constituency as PDP Rep loses seat

A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Isiala Mbano/Onuimo/Okigwe federal constituency of Imo State, Obinna Onwubuariri, has lost his seat at the House of Representatives.

This came with the judgment of the Appeal Court in Owerri, Imo State capital on Saturday, which sacked the House of Representatives member and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw his Certificate of Return and conduct a fresh poll in the entire federal constituency within 90 days.

The Appeal Court panel led by Justice R.N. Pemu, gave the ruling while delivering judgment in an appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the election, Miriam Onuoha.

The appellate court held that the election that produced Onwubuariri as House of Reps member in February was contrary to the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended.

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Noting that Onuoha was able to prove her allegations of over-voting, mutilation of figures and violence which marred the election, the panel reaffirmed the earlier ruling of the tribunal that ordered a fresh election in the federal constituency.

Not satisfied with the earlier ruling of the tribunal that ordered a fresh election in the constituency, Onwubuariri, had dragged the matter to Appeal Court, but his hope to upturn the ruling amounted to futility.

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