The Ebonyi state Governorship Election Tribunal Sitting in Abuja has upheld the victory of Francis Nwifuru as the governor of Ebonyi State.
The Tribunal affirmed Nwifuru’s election after dismissing the petition filed by the The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the March 18 governorship election, Ifeanyi Odii.
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The PDP and Odii had approached the Tribunal to declare that Nwifuru who contested and won under the platform of the APC was not qualified as he remains a member of the PDP and the party never sponsored him for the governorship election.
The three-member tribunal panel headed by Justice Lekan Ogunmoye however held that the membership of a political party is a domestic affair of a party and that Nwifuru has the right to decide which political party to associate with.
Justice Ogunmoye further ruled that the petitioners failed to prove their allegations of non compliance and corrupt practices.
While dismissing all the reliefs sought by the petitioner, the tribunal ruled that the result declared by INEC is still intact as it can only be over ruled by credible evidence which was not done.
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
