Big Blow Hits Imo PDP In Imo Election Tribunal Sacks Dibiagwu …As Court Orders Re-run Election In Oguta All Wards …PDP Candidate; It Is A Miscarriage Of Justice, Head To Appeal Court

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By Victor Madumere

Two years after the Oguta re-run election, the law courts are not done yet on the matter as Imo State Election Petitions Tribunal, presided over by Hon Justice B.G Sanga yesterday, nullified the polls which produced Hon Eugene Dibiagwu, as winner. It will be recalled that before yesterday’s Judgment, an appeal court had ordered a re-run in Oguta state constituency on August 8, 2012, which Dibiagwu of the PDP won.

Delivering judgment on the petition filed by Hon Walter Uzonwanne of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Hon Justice B.G Sanga declared the election of Hon Dibiagwu null and void and ordered another re-run this time in all the wards. He averred that the election of Dibiagwu did not take place in all the wards that both the 1^st respondent (Dibiagwu) and the 2^nd respondent (INEC) did not challenge the petitioner’s ground of petition that the winner was not duly elected due to irregularities that surrounded the election The judgment also has it that the winner, Dibiagwu and the umpire, INEC did not prove to the court that Dibiagwu won the election. It will be recalled that the Appeal Court sitting in Owerri has earlier upheld the results in seven (7) out of the eleven (11) wards in Oguta State Constituency and ordered for a re-run in the remaining four (4) wards which was done on the 11/8/12 and produced Dibiagwu as the winner. Speaking to newsmen, counsel to Hon Dibiagwu, Barr F.U Unyimadu said that they were dumbfounded with the judgment which he said is a miscarriage of justice and revealed that they will appeal the judgment immediately. He also wondered why the judgment will go against the statutory 90 days for a re-run to 21 days.

Chief Henry Akunekwu led counsel to Hon Walter Uzonwanne said the judgment is commendable.