Tribunal nullifies Senator Abaribe’s election

Two senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday, had their elections nullified.
In Abia State, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of the PDP had his election nullified by the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia.
Delivering the judgement, the lead judge stated that the election of Senator Abaribe was inconclusive due to irregularities in two local government areas namely Obingwa and Ugwunagbo.
The candidate of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chris Nkwonta, had petitioned the tribunal seeking nullification of Abaribe’s election on the basis of electoral irregularities.
Abaribe said his team were confused about the ruling stating that his legal team had applied for a certified true copy of the judgement, so as to guide him in deciding on an appropriate response.
Abaribe, a three-term senator, was first elected to represent Abia-South Senatorial District in 2007.
In Enugu, the National Assembly Election Tribunal, led by Justice M.O Adewara, nullified the election of Gilbert Nnaji of the PDP.
Nnaji was elected in April to represent Enugu East Senatorial District. In a ruling, in favour of a former governor of the state, Chimaroke Nnamani of the Peoples Democratic Change (PDC), Justice Adewara nullified Nnaji’s election. After the hotly contested election, Nnaji scored 69,544 votes against Nnamani’s 57,528 to win the contest.
The city of Enugu erupted in jubilation after the tribunal delivered its ruling. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be required to conduct fresh elections in Enugu in 90 days.
The nullification of Nnaji’s election will be the third time the election of a PDP senator would be nullified by an election petition tribunal in the last two weeks.