Court Of Appeal Dismisses APC Candidate’s Petition, Affirms Labour Party’s Chimaobi Atu As Enugu North And South Representative
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has dismissed the petition filed by the All Progressives Party (APC) candidate in the Enugu North and South National Assembly Elections, Juliet Egbo, against the victory of Chimaobi Atu of the Labour Party (LP).
The five-man Justices unanimously dismissed the petition for lacking in merit.
Egbo had in her petition challenged the nomination of Atu of Labour Party and also alleged voters’ intimidation by the party during the election.
A three-man panel at the National Assembly Elections petition tribunal in Enugu had dismissed the petition in July for lack of merit.
Not satisfied with the decision, the APC proceeded to the Court of Appeal, Abuja.
The Court of Appeal upheld the ruling of the tribunal, adding that the appeal was a mere academic exercise and a waste of judicial time.
The judgment has, therefore, put an end to the legal battle between the LP and APC candidates in the February 2023 National Assembly Election in Enugu North and South federal constituency.
Atu polled over 65,000 votes to defeat a three-term House of Representatives member, Ofor Chukwuegbo of the PDP who polled 7,000 votes and Juliet Egbo who polled 2,000 votes.
Addressing supporters and constituents in Enugu, Atu expressed his heartfelt gratitude to them for the unwavering support and trust placed in him.
“The victory in the courtroom mirrors the collective will and the steadfast commitment to upholding democratic values. This judgment has brought to a close the arduous legal contest that has shadowed our shared victory.
“I stand here today, resolute and dedicated to the ideals of my party and the Obidient Movement and the aspirations of my constituents. We pledge to redouble our efforts, working tirelessly to fulfill the promises we made during the campaigns.
“The legal battle, marked by rigorous scrutiny and comprehensive examination of the petition, has ultimately reaffirmed the choice made by the people during the February elections.”
Atu added that “the Court of Appeal’s ruling is a testament to the strength of the democratic institutions in our nation and their commitment to upholding the will of the people.”
Atu added that he was extending gratitude to God for guiding the journey and ensuring that justice prevailed.
“The victory in the courtroom serves as a resounding affirmation of the people’s faith in the democratic process and in their representatives,” Atu explained.
