Appeal Court upholds victory of two Abia PDP lawmakers

The Appeal Court in Lagos has upheld the victory of Ugochuckwu Collins Iheonunekwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the duly elected member of the Abia State House of Assembly for Isiala Ngwa North constituency.

The court dismissed the appeal brought by Innocent Uruakpa of the Labour Party (LP), saying that his prayers lacked merit.

The Appeal Court also upheld the victory of Chijioke Uruakpa (PDP) as the duly elected member for Ugwunagbo constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly.

The appellate court agreed with the ruling of the tribunal, which had earlier dismissed the petitions of Iheanacho Wabara of the Labour Party, saying that the petitioner could not prove his case.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Majority Leader of the Abia State House of Assembly, Destiny Nwagwu of the Labour Party (LP), was sacked by the Appeal Court for failure to prove his membership in the party before the March 18 elections. The three-man panel held that Nwagwu was invalidly nominated and was not qualified to contest the election. The court subsequently declared PDP’s Aaron Uzodike as the duly elected member representing Aba North constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly.

The sacked LP legislator, who led some of his members in protest in reaction to his removal, said the ruling was the highest form of injustice.