Ukwuani State Constituency: INEC, PDP, Ochor Defeat Ochonogor, APC At Tribunal

The Election Tribunal sitting in Asaba, had dismissed the case filled by Mr. David Ochonogor of the All Progressive Congress, APC against the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, which joined the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the winner of the 2019 House of Assembly Election of Ukwuani State Constituency, Hon Christopher Ochor Ochor.

In delivering the Judgement, the three man panel headed by Mr. E. E. D Ngele, ruled that the case was a pre election one, and the APC in the election fielded a candidate for the election, in answering the question if the petitioner was unlawfully excluded from the ballot.

The panel stated that before the petitioner got his judgement in the Supreme court as the rightful candidate for the APC, the  election had already been conducted and a winner declared, as such he cannot comeback to the tribunal to restore back his candidacy as a result of unlawful exclusion. This is because the law allows for electoral law to either run from the regular court to Supreme Court or from the Tribunal to the Appeal court.

It could be recalled that prior to the 2019.election, the APC had faction issues, which led to multiple candidates in the state, but however, the Supreme Court gave judgement in his favour as a the rightful candidate of APC, instead of Mr. Eze Omolu.

In his reaction, the Deputy Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Christopher Ochor Ochor described the judgement as laudable stating that the panel in their wisdom ruled that the judgement Mr. David Ochonogor received in his favour, was after the election had been conducted and won.

Rt. Hon Ochor said with the judgement, his faith in the judiciary has been further confirmed, as he equally used the occasion to call on the petitioner to join hands to move the state constituency forward.

He thanked his teeming supporters for having faith in him, adding that, they should expect better representation from him.

Commenting on the Judgement, Mr. Chukwuemeke Osemeke, said the ruling was a justice for the common man. He stated that the winner of the 2019 election for Ukwuani State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Christopher Ochor Ochor can not suffer for the pain the petitioner suffered from his party, the APC.