Appeal Court Sacks LP Senator, Declares New Winner, Details Emerge

• The Court of Appeal, Lagos, has nullified the victory of the Labour Party candidate, Darlington Nwokocha’s victory in the February 25 election
• Nwokocha's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rival, Austin Akobundu, who trailed the LP chieftain in the general election, was declared winner on Saturday, November 4, by the Appeal Court
• Akobundu, a former minister of state for defence, had challenged the outcome of the election at the national and state assembly election petition tribunal, citing fraud and non-compliance with the electoral act in the conduct of the election by INEC

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 6-year-experience covering politics in Nigeria

Umuahia, Abia state - The former national organising secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Colonel Austin Akobundu (Rtd), has reportedly been declared by the Appeal Court as the rightful winner of Abia Central Senatorial District of Abia state.

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A tweet by the PDP via its verified X (formerly Twitter) handle made this known on Saturday, November 4.

Appeal Court sacks LP's Nwokeocha

According to Nigeria's main opposition party, Col. Akobundu (Abia Central) and Senator Osita Ngwu (Enugu West) are the two PDP senators of southeast extraction.

This development means that Labour Party (LP's) Senator Darlington Nwokocha, would vacate his seat for Akobundu. Nwokocha is the current Senate minority whip.

Abia Central election: Akobundu reacts

Reacting to the development, Akobundu described his victory at the Appeal Court as a victory for the people.

Akobundu, who spoke through his special aide, Uche Nwosu, said the people of the senatorial district had won.

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According to him, the victory is a triumph for all lovers of democracy.

He hailed the people for standing behind him and thanked the judiciary for the judgment.

Dedicating the victory to God, the former minister of state for Defence, reiterated his determination to serve the people.

Four senators fired by Appeal Court

With the sack of Nwokocha, the total number of senators sacked so far by the appeal court from the 10th assembly has risen to four.

Elisha Abbo (Adamawa North) was the first to be sacked followed by Abubakar Sadiku-Ohere (Kogi Central).

Simon Mwadkwon (Plateau North) and the Senate minority leader, was the third senator that was removed by the appeal court. It, however, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a rerun within 90 days.

Ayade loses as Court of Appeal

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Court of Appeal Court sitting in Lagos dismissed the petition by the former governor of Cross River state, Ben Ayade, challenging the victory of Agom Jarigbe in the Cross River North 2023 senatorial district election.

The court also awarded N500,000 against the former governor, the candidate of the APC in the election, in favour of the incumbent senator.

Source: Legit.ng