The Court of Appeal in Enugu has upheld the removal of Hon. Simon Atigwe from the House of Representatives, declaring Hon. Dennis Nnamdi Agbo of the Labour Party (LP) as the rightful winner of the Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency seat.
The court’s decision reaffirms the earlier verdict of the Election Petition Tribunal, which had ruled against Atigwe, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Appeal Court’s ruling validates the election of Agbo in the re-run poll held on February 3, 2024.
The judgment, which was delivered by a three-member panel chaired by Justice Ekanem, was unanimous.
The court found that Agbo had rightfully won the election, reversing the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) earlier declaration of Atigwe as the victor.
A lawyer representing the Labour Party, Ifeanyi Ogenyi, confirmed the ruling in a post on Wednesday, expressing his satisfaction with the outcome.
“Congratulations to the people of Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency. The wheel of justice turns slowly, but it grinds. Truth and justice have prevailed, no matter the wait. Dennis Agbo has prevailed!” Ogenyi wrote.
The electoral battle dates back to February 25, 2023, when Agbo initially won the election but was removed from office following a court ruling.
In response, Agbo pursued legal redress through the Election Petition Tribunal, which found in his favour.
Atigwe’s subsequent appeal failed, cementing Agbo’s victory and confirming his return to the House of Representatives.
This ruling brings closure to a prolonged political and legal struggle, ensuring the representation of Igbo-Eze North/Udenu at the federal level under Labour Party leadership.
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