Appeal Court restores Rep Osonwa mandate

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Court of Appeal has overturned the decision of the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal which nullified the election of Ibe Okwara Osonwa of the Labour Party (LP) as the member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency of Abia State in the House of Representatives.
The court nullified the victory secured at the tribunal by Daniel Chimezie Okeke of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Appeal Court, in its ruling on yesterday reinstated Osonwa ‘s mandate by affirming his victory in the February 25 National Assembly election.
The appellate court ruled that Osonwa’s election should not have been nullified by the tribunal as it complied with the Electoral Act.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had in February, declared Osonwa as the winner of the election for Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency with 8,946 votes. His closest challenger, Daniel Chimezie Okeke, scored 6,635 votes.