Tribunal Takes Decision On Election Of Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu

The National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, Abia State on Tuesday upheld the victory of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu at the polls.

The three-man panel of the tribunal in its ruling, dismissed the petition by the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Frank Chinasa, seeking to nullify the electoral victory of Kalu.

The three judges of the panel in a unanimous judgment read by the tribunal chairman, Justice Samson Gang dismissed the Chinasa’s petition for lack of merit.

Naija News reports Kalu represents Bende federal constituency in the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

Naija News recalls the LP candidate had on March 17, 2023, approached the court through his petition seeking to nullify Kalu’s victory.

He submitted that the first respondent (Kalu) was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in error based on the names on the academic certificates used for the election.

Chinasa argued that Kalu was not the owner of the certificates he submitted to the second respondent (INEC), arguing further that Kalu did not score the highest number of lawful votes in the election.

On those bases, he asked the tribunal to withdraw the certificate of return given to Kalu by INEC and declare him the winner of the election, having scored the highest number of lawful votes or (in alternative) nullify the entire election.

However, the tribunal panel on Tuesday held that it is within the right of the first respondent, (Kalu) to change his name as no person or group of persons has the monopoly of any name.

Justice Gang added that Kalu equally harmonized the names in his certificate and which was published in the federal government official gazette.

The Judge while dismissing the case for lack of merit noted that the petitioner failed to prove his case.