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9 Senators, Reps Sacked So Far As Tribunals Race Against Time
News Hub CreatorSep 9, 2023 10:33 AM
According to Daily Trust Saturday, election petition tribunals in various states have dismissed nine members of the National Assembly, including senators and members of the House of Representatives.
The people who were victorious in the tribunals are rejoicing, while the majority of those who were removed have refused to accept the decisions and have pledged to appeal to the Court of Appeal in order to seek justice.
This is happening while numerous judges, who have been assigned to handle legal cases in all 36 states of the country, are working urgently to meet the deadline imposed by the amended Electoral Act of 2022.
As the judges prepare to announce their decisions, numerous lawmakers who have been sworn in but are facing legal cases are eagerly anticipating the outcomes. Some confidently claim they have nothing to worry about, while others admit to experiencing emotional and psychological strain due to the fact that their focus is now divided.
The senators and members expressed concern that despite having numerous responsibilities in the National Assembly, they were worried about potential unpredictable events occurring at the tribunals in their home regions.
According to Daily Trust Saturday, the Electoral Act states that the cases filed in March must be resolved within 180 days, which means that all the cases must be decided by September 16th.
9 senators, reps sacked so far as tribunals race against time
Tribunal sacks Udende, declares Suswam senator
The most recent removal of a federal legislator occurred in Benue State. The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Makurdi declared Senator Gabriel Suswam of the PDP as the victor in the February 25 election for Benue North East. The tribunal’s decision, which took more than three hours, resulted in the removal of Emmanuel Udende from the upper chamber of the National Assembly, who was a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Chairman of the three-man panel, Justice Ory Zik-Ikeorha, and another member ruled in favor of Suswam and the PDP.
Kano NNPP Rep, Yerima, sacked over forgery
The National and House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Kano State has invalidated the election of Muktar Umar Yerima from the NNPP. A three-member panel of the tribunal, headed by Justice I.P. Chima, determined that Yerima was ineligible due to the forgery of his primary school certificate. The tribunal concluded that the petitioner, Hafizu Kawu from the APC, successfully proved the accusation of forgery against Yerima, resulting in the nullification of his election.
Lagos LP Rep, Sowumi’s, election nullified
The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal has invalidated Seyi Sowunmi’s election as the representative of Ojo Federal Constituency in Lagos State. The panel, consisting of three members led by Justice Abdullahi Ozegya, proclaimed Lanre Ogunyemi of the APC as the victor of the election. The other members of the panel include Justices Ashu Ewah and Muhammad Sambo.
Inconclusive poll boots Delta South’s Onowakpo out
The election tribunal held in Asaba, the capital of Delta State, has deemed the parliamentary election that led to the appointment of Senator Thomas Onowakpo from the APC party as inconclusive. The tribunal has also instructed the withdrawal of his Certificate of Return, which grants him the position in the National Assembly to represent Delta South.
LP rep asked to go too
In Delta, the tribunal that was in session removed the legislator, Ngozi Okolie, who represented the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency.
The tribunal invalidated Okolie’s election, as she ran under the LP party, and instead announced Ndudi Elumelu, the candidate from the PDP, as the winner of the February 25 election.
Led by Justice A.Z. Mussa, the three-member tribunal stated that INEC had wrongly declared the LP candidate as the winner.
Kogi East’s Echocho removed
The tribunal in Lokoja has removed Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho, who represents Kogi East, from his position following a petition by Victor Adoji of the PDP. The tribunal has also ordered a supplementary election to be held in 94 polling units, which received a total of 59,730 votes. The Chairman of the panel, Justice K.A. Orjiako, who delivered the verdict, agreed with the requests made by the petitioners.
Adoji, represented by his lawyer Johnson Usman (SAN), contested the victory of Echocho due to the cancellation of elections in certain polling units. This was because the number of collected PVCs (Permanent Voter Cards) exceeded the margin of Echocho’s win.
Senator Ohere’s victory nullified
The tribunal has invalidated the declaration of Senator Abubakar Ohere (APC) as the victor of the Kogi Central election. Instead, the tribunal has declared Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan of the PDP as the winner of the parliamentary election that took place on February 25. The tribunal’s Chairman, Justice K.A. Orjiako, stated in a unanimous judgement by the three-man panel that Ohere’s vote count was exaggerated in nine polling units of Ajaokuta LGA during the election, while the INEC collation officers intentionally decreased the vote count of the PDP candidate.
Abia LP Rep, Ogah, sacked
In Abia, the tribunal sacked the Member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, Amobi Ogah, of LP, and declared the APC candidate, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, as winner of the February 25, poll.
Onyejeocha, a Deputy Whip in the 9th House of Representatives and incumbent Minister of State for Labour, had approached the tribunal to seek the nullification of Ogah’s emergence, alleging that he was not qualified to contest for the election and was not validly nominated and sponsored by his party.
Bayelsa PDP Rep, Agbedi, asked to go
Similarly, the tribunal in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, removed Fred Agbedi from the PDP and instructed INEC to revoke Agbedi’s certificate and organize a new election for the 26,000 voters who were unlawfully excluded. Michael Bless Olomu of the APC had requested the court to declare him the winner of the election due to the violence that occurred during the voting process.
The 9,000-vote margin which Agbedi had against Olomu in the election remains valid.
Source: Daily trust.
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