Tribunal removes Nnaji at Enugu East
The National Assembly Election Tribunal sitting in Enugu State has removed Senator Gilbert Emeka Nnaji as representative of Enugu East Senatorial Zone.
The judgement was given yesterday in favour of former governor, Chimaroke Nnamani, who contested on the platform of the People for Democratic Change (PDC) against Nnaji of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The tribunal held that the conduct of the election did not comply with the 2010 Electoral Act.
Justice Mathew Aderawa, who delivered the judgement, said: “The first respondent while trying to deny that irregularities marred the election, exposed more mutilation of results in polling stations where he won. Ballot papers were not accounted for, which affected the outcome of the result. Irregularities occurred in the six LGA that constitute the senatorial district.”
According to Aderawa, sufficient evidence was laid before the tribunal showing that the first respondent inflated results while deflating the petitioners’ result. These irregularities and non compliance were substantial to mar the outcome of the election, he added, noting that the petitioner proved beyond reasonable doubt that the election did not comply with the provisions of the electoral act. He therefore nullified the election and ordered a fresh one.