The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting at Awka, over the weekend, upheld the election of Engr Dom Ifeanyichukwu Okafor, as the member representing Aguata Federal Constituency in the National Assembly.
It equally dismissed the petitions filed by Okafor’s opponents, challenging the February 25 Aguata Federal Constituency Election.
The Independent national Electoral Commission, INEC had earlier this year, declared Engr Okafor of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, as the winner of the election.
However, Engr Okafor were High Chief Engr Johnbosco Onunkwor of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Chief Andy Azike of Labour Party (LP), had filed various petitions, challenging the election’s outcome.
The Tribunal, while delivering the judgement in a petition No.EPT/AN/HR/22/2023 filed by the petitioner Engr Onunkwor of the APC against Engr Okafor and Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), noted that the petitioner failed woefully to prove their cases against the respondents.
The court therefore dismissed their claims and awarded each of the three respondents (Engr. Dominic Okafor, APGA & INEC) the sum of One hundred thousand Naira (N100,000) against the petitioner.
Also in a judgement delivered over the weekend on the petition No.EPT/AN/HR/19/2023, brought by Chief Azike of the Labour Party, the court flawed all the charges levied against Okafor in the matter, for lacking merit.
It further held that the challenger did not put forward before the court, substantial evidence to be granted the reliefs he is seeking.
Reacting to the judgements, Engr thanked God Almighty who made it possible and also thanked the good people of Aguata Federal Constituency for giving him their mandate.
He further renewed his commitment to bringing home dividends of democracy that accrue to the constituency to its people.
“Today, the courts has once again, affirmed the mandate given to me by the good people of Aguata and which I exercise at the National Assembly.
”I am grateful to God that the judgement went in favour of the majority of Aguata people and it will enable me continue to push for the continued development of my constituency,” Okafor vowed.
He further extended the hand of fellowship to the petitioners, High Chief Onunkwor and Chief Azike, to join hands with him to bring more dividends of democracy to the people of Aguata Federal Constituency.
“Aguata belongs to all of us and I do not take this victory for granted. I call on my brothers who lost at the tribunal to support me. The overall goal should be the best interest of Aguata and if they desire that, as I believe, I urge them to work with me to achieve that vision,” he posited.
