LP Candidate Disqualified in House of Reps Election

The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, Delta State, has delivered a significant verdict, nullifying the election of Mr. Ngozi Okolie, the member representing Aniocha/Oshimili Constituency at the House of Representatives.

The ruling followed a petition filed by the immediate past Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ndidi Elumelu.

In the February 25 House of Representatives election for the federal constituency, Ngozi Okolie of the Labour Party (LP) was initially declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, Ndidi Elumelu contested the outcome, filing a petition with the tribunal urging them to disqualify Okolie.

The crux of Elumelu’s petition, marked EPT/DL/HR/06/2023, was based on two main grounds. Firstly, he argued that Okolie was not properly sponsored by the Labour Party, casting doubt on his eligibility. Secondly, Elumelu asserted that Okolie had failed to resign from his public office before contesting the elections, which raised questions about his qualification.

The three-member tribunal panel, presided over by Justice A.Z. Mussa, carefully considered the evidence presented and rendered its verdict in favor of the petitioner. The tribunal found that Okolie was not duly sponsored by the Labour Party and that he was not a member of the party as of May 28, 2022, the purported date of the primary election. Additionally, the tribunal ruled that Okolie had not resigned from his public office before entering the race, another violation of constitutional requirements.

Consequently, the tribunal disqualified Ngozi Okolie and declared Ndudi Elumelu, who was the first runner-up in the election, as the rightful winner of the House of Representatives election for the Aniocha/Oshimili Constituency.

Speaking with journalists after the ruling, Andrew Osemenem, the counsel for the petitioner, expressed satisfaction with the tribunal’s decision. Osemenem highlighted that the petition was grounded on the issue of qualification, with evidence presented to show that Okolie was not a legitimate member of the Labour Party and that no valid primary had taken place.

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“The tribunal found that Okolie was not duly sponsored by the Labour Party because there were no primaries,” Osemenem stated, “The second ground is as we urged the tribunal, the tribunal also found that Okolie was in public office, he did not resign.”

The nullification of Okolie’s election was in accordance with Section 135 of the Electoral Act, paving the way for Ndudi Elumelu to be declared and returned as the rightful winner of the election. The ruling has significant implications for the political landscape in Aniocha/Oshimili Constituency and serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to electoral laws and constitutional requirements for qualification and sponsorship.