Imo: Appeal Court Upholds Ugochinyere’s Election 

The Lagos Division of the Appeal Court has confirmed Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere as the victor of the House of Representatives election, which took place in the Ideato North and South Federal Constituencies of Imo State.

As previously reported by Naija News, Ugochinyere was removed from his position as the member representing the Ideato North and South Federal Constituencies by the election petition tribunal convened in September at Mararaba High Court in Abuja.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party candidates will face off in new elections in the constituency’s wards, under the tribunal’s directive (LP).

Delivering its verdict, the tribunal judges held that Ugochinyere was unfit to contest the election considering that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, failed to conduct a primary election in the constituency.

However, in the latest development, the Appeal Court panel led by Justice Abubakar Babandi Gumel set aside the ruling of the Tribunal, which had sacked Ugochinyere.

Gumel, however, reversed the tribunal’s rulings in a unanimous decision on Wednesday. He clarified that the petition was a pre-election matter that was outside the purview of the tribunal to preside over.

Reacting to the ruling, Ugochinyere posted the appeal court verdict that affirmed his victory on his official X handle.