Abaribe’s election nullified The election petition tribunal sitting in Abia State has declared Mao Ohuabunwa winner of the Abia North senatorial election. Ohuabunwa was declared winner after the addition and deduction of votes cast for him and the petitioner, Chief Bourdex Ogba Onuoha. Tribunal head Justice Adeniyi Onibanjo said Onuoha’s claims of irregularities were not enough to cancel the election, adding that the petitioner was able to prove that some of his votes were deducted by INEC, while Ohuabunwa’s votes were increased by the electoral body. The tribunal, therefore, decided to deduct the votes they believed were given to Ohuabunwa by INEC and added the votes believed to have been deducted from Onuoha back to him. The results, after deduction from Ohuabunwa, was 43, 738, while Onuoha’s, after adding his stolen votes, was 28, 210. The tribunal also dismissed Orji Uzor Kalu’s petition for incompetence, even as the petitioner earlier questioned the jurisdiction of the tribunal to handle the case. Onuoha expressed shock with the result, saying the tribunal delayed his mandate. He said he would proceed to the Court of Appeal to recover his stolen mandate, even as he urged his supporters to remain calm. The tribunal has nullified the election of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Lead judge said the election was inconclusive due to irregularities in Obingwa and Ugwunagbo councils. Candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chris Nkwonta petitioned the tribunal seeking nullification of Abaribe’s election for electoral irregularities. Abaribe said his team was confused about the ruling but has applied for a Certified True Copy of the judgment as a guide to an appropriate response. Abaribe, a three-term senator was first elected to represent Abia South in 2007.]]>