EREYINTOMI TRIUMPHS OVER APC’s EKPOTO AT ELECTION PETITION TRIBUNAL

The National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, Saturday, dismissed the petition filed by Ekpoto Ekpoto Emmanuel of the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the election of Rt. Hon. Thomas Ereyintomi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25, 2023, National Assembly election.

The Chairman of  the three-man panel of the Tribunal, Justice Catherine Ogunsola, who read the judgement while dismissing the case in Asaba, said the Petitioner’s case lacked merit, adding that the Petitioner failed to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt.

The Tribunal further said the evidence of the Petitioner was not admissible in the eye of the law.

According to the Tribunal Judges “The Petitioners failed to call evidence unit by unit and ward by ward to establish malpractice in the election.

“The Petitioner in his pleadings could not prove the discrepancy between the number of accredited voters, the lawful votes cast and how it affected the outcome of the election.

“The alleged forgery of the 3rd Respondent’s NECO was not established as there was disclaimer from the issuing authority. Besides, no means could be inferred”.

Each and every relief sought in the petition, as well as the petition itself were dismissed with cost of five hundred thousand naira (N500,000) against the Petitioner in favour of the 2nd and 3rd Respondents.

Speaking to Journalists, Counsel to the Lawmaker, Robinson Arhiyo said: “It is victory for democracy and for the electorate, who voted massively for Rt. Hon. Thomas Ereyintomi in the election”.