The Delta State National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal in Asaba declared Ngozi Okolie’s win in the February 25 National Assembly election as invalid, ruling in favor of Ndudi Elumelu of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The tribunal then declared Ndudi Elumelu, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the rightful winner of the election.
Elumelu had filed a petition, EPT/DL/HR/06/2023, urging the tribunal to disqualify Okolie due to reasons like improper sponsorship by the Labour Party and failure to resign from his previous public office.
READ ALSO: Monday motivation • Impossibility only happens in the brain – @tonyoelumelu
This is a correct exposition of jurisprudence
The three-member tribunal, led by Justice A.Z. Mussa, stated that Okolie was not a genuine member of the Labour Party as of May 28, 2022, the date of the primary election.
They also found out that Okolie did not properly resign from his previous public office before contesting the elections.
Ndudi Elumelu’s lawyer, Andrew Osemenem, said he was happy with the verdict. He believed that the tribunal correctly understood and applied the law in their decision.
READ ALSO: My Guinean citizenship is Invalid: President Bola Tinubu tells Tribunal
Tinubu, Shettima plea to tribunal
President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima plead with the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal not to invalidate the presidential election held on February 25.
They argue that the controversy surrounding the 25% requirement in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) should not be a reason to cancel the election.
Their appeal was presented in a final address by their lead counsel, Wole Olanipekun.
