Linus Okorie, the Labour Party’s candidate for the Ebonyi South senate seat, has rejected the decision of the election petition tribunal that favored David Umahi, the former governor of the state, in the race.
Platinum Times cites the unanimous decision issued on Friday by the Ebonyi State National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja, which dismissed Okorie’s petition for failing to establish his allegations of corruption and violation of the electoral law as amended.
According to Platinum Times, the three tribunal members unanimously proclaimed Umahi, who is currently the Minister of Works, the victor of the 2023 Ebonyi South senatorial race.
I disagree with that judgment, even if I respect it, Okorie said in a statement available to newsmen in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State. I disagree with the decision because it did not uphold the rule of law, reflect the evidence that was offered, or reflect the expressed will of the Ebonyi South electorate.
Okorie stated that declaring the election inconclusive and ordering a new election was the least that could be expected of justice in the circumstances of that particular election.
“Whatever motivated the tribunal to so flagrantly ignore the weighty evidence before it, especially certified true copies of INEC results and the unambiguous provisions of Section 137 of the Electoral Act 2022 in the circumstances, is best known to them,” he stated.
He pledged to challenge the ruling, stating: “I have instructed my attorneys to challenge the ruling. We would not tolerate the INEC-initiated truncation of the people’s will in Ebonyi South.