Tribunal sacks Mbah, orders rerun in Enugu

The National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal in Enugu State has invalidated the victory of Hon. Okey Mbah, a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the March 18 House of Assembly election for Nkanu East constituency.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had initially announced Mbah as the winner, but the tribunal, in its ruling on Friday, asserted that the electoral process did not comply with the provisions stipulated in the 2022 Electoral Act.

The three-member panel, led by Honourable Justice Adie Attoe Onyebueke, while delivering their judgment on the petition filed by the Labour Party candidate, Surv. Okwudiri Nnaji, declared the election inconclusive.

The tribunal has ordered a rerun of the election in specific polling units located in Ugbawka and Owo wards. The decision was predicated on the revelation that the number of votes exceeded the registered and accredited voters in those areas, casting doubt on the validity of INEC’s return.