The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, has upheld the election of Professor Anthony Okorie Ani as the Senator representing Ebonyi South Senatorial District in the Upper Chamber.
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, the tribunal panel dismissed the petitions filed by the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Hon. Linus Abaa Okorie, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Barrister Silas Onu.
In a unanimous judgment, the tribunal ruled that the petitioners failed to substantiate their allegations of malpractices and irregularities against the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and, therefore, dismissed their petitions for lacking merit.
Fielding questions from newsmen after the court session, counsel to Senator Ani, Roy Nweze Umahi, SAN, noted that the judgment was in line with the law. He commended the tribunal for delivering justice in the matter.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, described the judgment as a victory for the Ebonyi State APC family. He emphatically stated that the people of Ebonyi South zone did not vote for the PDP and LP candidates during the election. He boasted that the APC has come to stay in Ebonyi State and urged those who wish to win elections in the future to join the winning party and stop wasting time in opposition parties.
The Chairman of Onicha Local Government Area, Hon. Chidiebere Uzor, described the judgment as a true reflection of the wishes of the people of Ebonyi South Senatorial District. Uzor, who led other stakeholders to the tribunal, said the people of Ebonyi South zone only voted for Professor Ani and wondered why the LP and PDP candidates were contesting the outcome of the election.
Also speaking, a one-time Commissioner for Education in the state, Chief Sunday Oyibe, said the judgment will help the Senator concentrate on offering quality representation to the people. He commended Governor Francis Nwifuru, Minister of Works Senator David Umahi, the Chairman of APC in Ebonyi State Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, and other leaders and stakeholders of the party in the state for rallying support for Professor Ani during the electioneering.
Ani was elected to represent the Ebonyi South zone in a by-election held on February 3, 2024, after polling 46,270 votes to defeat his closest rival, Chief Ifeanyi Eleje of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), who scored 3,513 votes. The by-election was conducted after Senator David Umahi resigned as Senator representing the zone to serve as Minister of Works.
