?
The Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu, Thursday 19 January, 2012, nullified the election of Hon. Onyebuchi Nwaneri H. of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency in Anambra State.
In a unanimous judgement delivered by a five – man panel of justices led by Justice P. N. Boladelyu, the court ordered Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately withdraw the certificate of return issued to Onyebuchi Nwaneri H.
The judgement given by the Court of Appeal was contrary to the prayers sought by Hon. Sunday Nwafili of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) that he be declared winner of the said election conducted by the INEC.
The court has ordered INEC to conduct fresh polls within 90 days from the day of the judgement.
The court could not however give reasons to back up its judgement as it promised to do so at a later date.
The PDP candidate in the April National Assembly election for the Ogbaru Federal Constituency, Sunday Nwafili had alleged irregularities in the said election and had asked the Elections Petition Tribunal to declare him having scored majority of the lawful votes cast.
It would be recalled that the lower tribunal, after hearing the case in November 2011, dismissed Nwafili’s petition on the basis of lack merit.