The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will soon commence defence in the consolidated petition against it at the National and State Assembly By-Election Petitions Tribunal in Anambra.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC conducted the by-election in Anambra on Aug. 16 where Emmanuel Nwachukwu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) emerged senator for Anambra South.
Mr Ibrahim Mahmud, Secretary of the Anambra By-election Petition Tribunal, told journalists in Awka on Wednesday that a total of five petitions were received, all challenging the election of Nwachukwu.
Mahmud said that the petitions from Donald Amamgbo, candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) with suit no. EPT/AN/SEN/01/2025 and another by the ADC party with suit no. EPT/AN/SEN/02/2025 have been consolidated with hearing concluded.
INEC, Nwachukwu and APGA are respondents in both petitions.
He said that hearing had commenced on the petition by the All Progressives Congress (APC) with EPT/AN/SEN/04/2025, while the petition by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) with suit no. EPT/AN/SEN/05/2025 was at the prehearing stage.
The secretary said that the petition by the Allied Peoples Movement with suit no. EPT/AN/SEN/03/2025 had been withdrawn.
“All the petitions have been responded to; the petition of Donald Amamgbo has been consolidated with the petition of ADC.
“Hearing commenced proper in the consolidated petition; the petitioners have closed their case and it’s adjourned to Nov. 20 for the defence by INEC.
“On the petition of APC, prehearing has been concluded and the matter adjourned to Nov. 20 for the petitioner to present his witnesses.
“For the SDP, prehearing is ongoing and will continue on Nov. 20,” Mahmud said.
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