Election Petition Tribunal Upholds Ekweremadu’s Victory

Yesterday, The National Assembly and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Enugu, dismissed a petition brought before it by Philip Chukwudi Eze candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for Enugu-West senatorial district.

Eze is challenging the victory of Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu at the March 28 poll. The chairman of the tribunal, Justice Michael Edem struck out the petition on the basis that it lacked substantial evidence while awarding the total sum of N60,000 in favour of Ekweremadu, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the last respondent.

Edem said the petitioner, failed to undoubtedly prove his case, adding that the evidence adduced in trial showed that the petitioner was included and not excluded in the senatorial election which held on March 28.

“The petitioner remembered to forget or forgot to remember that in law, he who asserts must prove. The petitioner first asserted and must prove. Pleading without evidence amounts to no issue,” he said.