National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal Nullifies Election of Ngozi Okolie; Declares Ndudi Elumelu Winner
ASABA/Nigeria: In a significant turn of events, the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, Delta State, has nullified the election of Mr. Ngozi Okolie of the Labour Party as the member representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency of Delta State in the House of Representatives. The ruling, delivered in a marathon 107-page judgment that spanned over five hours, was based on the grounds presented by the petitioners, with Justice A.Z. Mussa heading the three-member tribunal.
The tribunal upheld the petition filed by Ndudi Elumelu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who was the runner-up in the February 25, 2023 National Assembly election. Elumelu had contested Okolie’s victory, alleging that the latter was not properly sponsored by the Labour Party and had failed to resign his position as a public office holder.
In the aftermath of the ruling, Andrew Osememedua Odum, SAN, the Petitioners’ Counsel, expressed satisfaction, describing the judgment as “a correct exposition of jurisprudence and the law.” He asserted, “We also proved and the tribunal agreed with us that there was no primaries, there was no sponsorship, the Labour Party did not conduct any primaries for the National Assembly election.”
The tribunal found merit in the petitioners’ claims, ruling that Okolie was not duly sponsored by the Labour Party, as he was not a member of the party at the time of the purported primary held on May 28, 2022. Additionally, the tribunal concurred with the petitioners’ argument that Okolie did not resign from his public office to contest the elections, which constituted a violation of the law.
As a result of the nullification, Ndudi Elumelu was declared the rightful winner of the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives, in accordance with Section 135 of the Electoral Act.
In his reaction to the ruling, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu expressed his appreciation to the Judiciary for upholding justice and deemed the judgment as a victory for democracy, the rule of law, and the people of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency. He further emphasized that the judiciary remains the last resort for aggrieved citizens seeking redress.
Elumelu extended his gratitude to the people of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, as well as notable political figures, including Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the immediate past Governor Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, and former Vice-president and Presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, for their support throughout the quest for justice.
Moreover, the immediate past Minority Leader of the House of Representatives urged Ngozi Lawrence Okolie to join hands with him in advancing the development of the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency.
Several individuals, including Chairman Nkem Okwuofu, Chief Chris Agbabu, Chief Patrick Ukah, Hon. Chikazia, Chief Edwin Uzor, Chief Emma Chinye, Chief Dada Okonji, and Mr. Olise Ifeajika, also commended the tribunal’s judgment and congratulated Ndudi Elumelu on his victory. They called upon the people of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency to continue supporting Elumelu in his effective representation in the House of Representatives.
The ruling by the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal has undoubtedly reshaped the political landscape of the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, leaving both supporters and opponents eager to see the future implications of this verdict on Delta State’s political dynamics.
