The Appeal Court sitting as an Electoral Petitions Tribunal in Owerri last Friday, upheld the election of Dr. Paschal Obi as the member representing Ideato North and Ideato South federal constituency at the National Assembly. Dr Paschal Obi was the immediate past Principal Secretary to the then Governor Rochas Okorocha.
Delivering judgment, the court dismissed the appeal brought before it by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Hon. Austin Chukwukere stating that the Election Petitions Tribunal carried out detailed and impeccable assignment. “The appeal lacks merit in its entirety. It therefore fails and is dismissed”.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the judgment, CJ Ogusie, who represented Chief EO Onyema, the counsel for Defendant, Dr. Obi, disclosed that the six issues raised by the appellant had all been resolved by the Appeal Court meaning that there would not be any further appeal.
Reacting to the appeal court judgment, member representing Ideato Federal Constituency, and the candidate of Action Alliance in the past election, Dr. Paschal Obi described the judgment as judgment for the people and for better representation.
Hon. Obi also called on the opponents to close ranks with him to offer the needed representation to the people saying there was no victor no vanquished.
Earlier, the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Owerri had in a petition brought before it by Hon. Austin Chukwukere, challenging the election of Hon. Paschal Obi (KSM) confirmed the later as being duly elected.
