Tribunal admits exhibits in Umeh’s petition against Sen. Ekwunife

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The Legislative Election Petitions Tribunal for Anambra State on Wednesday admitted bundles of exhibits in a petition filed by Chief Victor Umeh against Sen. Uche Ekwunife (PDP-Anambra Central),  reports‎ News Agency of Nigeria, NAN.

According to the report, Justice Nayai Aganaba three-member tribunal admitted the petitioner’s exhibits in evidence at its resumed sitting in Awka.

Umeh and his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is challenging Ekwunife’s victory on grounds that the March 28 poll conducted for Anambra Central Senatorial District was fraught with electoral malpractices.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exhibits admitted in evidence included INEC Forms – EC8A (polling units results), EC8B (ward results) and EC8C (local councils results) used for the poll.

Also tendered and admitted in evidence were the PDP Electoral Guideline 2014, a copy of letter dated Nov. 4, 2014, written by the national Chairman of APGA to the National Chairman of the PDP and APGA certificate issued to Umeh as the senatorial candidate of the party after the party’s primary.

Form CF001 being INEC’s acknowledgment of candidates’ names, issued to Umeh was also admitted as exhibit by the tribunal.

NAN reports that Umeh’s Counsel Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, tendered the documents unopposed by INEC lawyer, Mr Okechukwu Ezechukwu as well as lawyers to Ekwunife and PDP, Peter Eze and George Igbokwe respectively.

The tribunal adjourned till July 24 for continuation of hearing.

Meanwhile, Umeh has expressed confidence in the tribunal to try the petition on its merit, insisting that he would reclaim his “stolen mandate” at the end.

“Having tendered all the documents issued by INEC, we want to see how the commission will prove that PDP won the elections.

“We have realised from the document as produced by INEC that the commission made errors in the computations,’’ Umeh said.