TRIBUNAL REJECTS OGBORU'S MOTION SEEKING TO INVALIDATE ELECTION RESULTS

A motion seeking to invalidate election results declared in six local government areas of the Delta State in the April 26 governorship election was yesterday thrown out by the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba.

The motion was filed at the interlocutory stage of the petition by the petitioner, Chief Great Ogboru of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) on August 11.

His counsel, Nichols Ichekor had alleged that the third respondent, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had admitted that there was no election at all in Warri North, Bomadi and Burutu council areas while election was not also held in several units of Ethiope West, Warri South and Warri South/West council areas.

The allegations were however, denied by INEC as well as counsel to first and second respondents. The first and second respondents are Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) declared to have won the election by INEC.

Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Abisoye Ayo held that it was pre-mature at the interlocutory stage to determine such issue raised by the petitioner, which would arise at the substantive trial of the petition.

She further held that the procedure of entering judgment on admission of facts by consent relied upon by the applicant's counsel to invalidate declared election results without evidence was a position 'strange and unknown in the adjudication of election petition in this country.'

The tribunal urged the petitioners to ventilate the issues at the trial stage as it would avoid making pronouncement on such issues at this interlocutory stage that would arise at the substantive trial.