AN Umuahia Federal High Court presided over by Justice Daniel Osiagor has nullified the election of Mr. Kelechi Onuzurike, representing Umuahia North state constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, saying he was not the authentic candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, for the election.

The court, therefore, ordered a fresh election to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the constituency within 30 days.

The court also ordered Onuzurike and other defendants, including APGA, to pay the applicant, Mr. Sunday Ajero, N8 million as compensation. Ajero had approached the court, claiming that he was the rightful candidate of APGA in the April 2015 election.

He claimed that he was displaced by the defendant and four others joined in the suit. In his ruling, Justice Osiagor agreed that Onuzurike, who won the seat under APGA, was not the rightful candidate of the party in the election.

Counsel to the applicant, Smart Apu, lauded the judgment, while counsel to Onuzurike, Chief Uwandu Onyenakom, described the judgment as an error, saying they would challenge it at the Court of Appeal.

Vanguard…..

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