By Anayo Okoli

UMUAHIA—THE National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia has upheld the elections of Senator Mao Ohuabunwa of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, representing Abia North Senatorial District in the National Assembly.

However, in the case of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of Abia South, also of PDP, the tribunal ordered a re-run within 90 days in some polling units in both Ugwunagbo and Obingwa local government areas, but did not say whether Abaribe should remain in the Senate or not.

Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa

The PDP in the state also won its cases in the seven House of Representatives petitions. Mr. Darlington Nwokocha’s election was upheld for Isiala Ngwa Federal constituency against Chief Chineye Ike of the APGA.

The election of the member representing Isikwuato/Umunneochi Federal constituency, Mrs. Nkiru Onyejiocha of the PDP was upheld against the petition of Dr. Ejike Oji of APGA after the case was struck out by the tribunal for lack of merit.

Mr. Uzoma Abonta of the PDP’s election was also upheld by the tribunal which struck out the petition of Mr. Kennedy Adiele of APGA just as the election of Mr. Uko Nkole as member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia in the House of Representatives was upheld.

Senator Ohuabunwa, whose election was challenged by former Abia State governor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu and a business mogul, Chief Bourdex Onuoha was declared winner by the tribunal headed by Justice Adeniyi Onibanjo after deducting and adding of votes cast for him.

Justice Onibanjo said that the allegation by Onuoha that there were irregularities were not enough to cancel the election, adding that the petitioner [Onuoha] was able to prove that some of his votes were deducted by INEC, while Ohuabunwa’s votes were increased by the electoral body and therefore decided to deduct the votes they believed were given to Ohuabunwa by INEC and added the votes believed to have been deducted from Onuoha back to him.

However, the result of the election after deduction from Ohuabunwa stood at 43,738, while Onuoha after adding the votes that were allegedly stolen from him by INEC stood at 28, 210.

In the case of Orji Uzor Kalu and Ohuabunwa, the tribunal dismissed the petition, saying that it was incompetent.