The Court of Appeals sitting in Lagos has upheld the victory of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu during the February 25, 2023 National Assembly election for Abia North Senatorial district. The Court agreed with the ruling of National Assembly election petition tribunal ruling in Umuahia, which earlier upheld Kalu’s election. Senator Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Nnamdi Iro Orji of the Labour Party (LP) had challenged the tribunal’s ruling, arguing that the election of Kalu did not confirm with the provisions of the Electoral ACT, and therefore, prayed the Appeal Court to nullify the former Senate Chief Whip’s victory.
But ruling on the appeals on Monday, the Appeal Court Panel unanimously upheld the decision of the National Assembly election petition tribunal, which earlier dismissed the petitions of the two candidates and their political parties. The appellant Court refused to accept the prayers of Sam Ohuabunwa and Nnamdi Iri Orji , that INEC’s declaration of Kalu as the winner of the Abia North Senatorial district polls, did not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act. It held that the PDP and LP former candidates could not prove their claims that elections did not hold in 120 polling units. The Appeal Court also ruled that the claims by Nnamdi Iro Orji of LP that Kalu confessed being an ex-convict of a financial crime, was no longer valid under Section 66 of the Nigerian constitution, as Supreme Court had already nullified the said conviction.
