ABIA: TRIBUNAL AFFIRMS ELECTION OF BENJAMIN KANU

REPORTER: JOHN MADUAGWU

The Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abia State has affirmed the election of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Ben Kalu, as the member representing Bende Federal Constituency.

The Chairman of panel 4 handling National and State House of Assembly Election Petitions in Abia State, Justice Samson Gang, gave the verdict while delivering judgement in the petition filed by Mr. Ifeanyi Frank Chinasa and the Labour Party against Mr. Kalu, the All Progressives Congress and Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).

On the issue of different names found on the documents of Mr. Kalu, the tribunal held that no law in Nigeria prevents anybody from changing their names based on prevailing circumstances, noting that he had exercised that right and also shown evidence of having regularized it.

Justice Gang further noted that the petitioners also failed to prove the criminal allegations they made against the respondents beyond any reasonable doubt as the burden of proof rested on them.

He therefore dismissed the petition for lacking in merit and awarded no cost in favour or against any of the parties in the matter.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU