- The court also dismissed the petitioners’ arguments that the election was not held in over 120 polling units, mainly in Ohafia and Arochukwu Local Government Areas of the zone.
- The court ruled that these allegations were unsubstantiated and lacked merit.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s victory in the February 25, 2023, Abia North senatorial election has again been confirmed by the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Mao Ohuabunwa and the Labour Party (LP) candidate Nnamdi Iro Orji submitted petitions contesting Kalu’s victory, but the court dismissed them.
Under the direction of Justice Abiri JCA, the judges of the appellate court upheld the ruling of the National Assembly Petitions Tribunal, Umuahia, which had previously denied the petitions. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) held an election that followed with the Electoral Act, according to the court, and the petitioners’ allegations of irregularities were unfounded.
The court also dismissed the petitioners’ arguments that the election was not held in over 120 polling units, mainly in Ohafia and Arochukwu Local Government Areas of the zone. The court ruled that these allegations were unsubstantiated and lacked merit.
In addition, the court rejected the LP candidate’s argument that Senator Kalu should be disqualified due to his alleged conviction for fraud. The court held that Kalu’s conviction had been nullified by the Supreme Court and that he was, therefore, eligible to contest the election.