BATTLE FOR ANOCHA-DUNUKOFIA-NJIKOKA FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY: TRIBUNAL FIXES MAY 17 FOR RULING

The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka, Anambra State has fixed May 17, 2019 to rule on the application brought before it by Dr. Richard Egenti seeking to be joined as a respondent in the petition filed by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate in the February 23 National Assembly election, Chief Dozie Nwankwo, challenging the declaration of Chief Val Ayika of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of Anaocha-Dunukofia-Njikoka Federal Constituency.

In his petition, Dr. Egenti argued that he was the rightful candidate of PDP for the election and should be joined in the petition.

But counsel to Chief Val Ayika, Mr. Fidelis Anyanegbu, urged the Tribunal to strike out the application as it was filed beyond the 21 days allowed by the electoral Act.

In his Submission, counsel for Dr. Egenti, Mr. Anthony Anyaorah, said that the application was based on the fact that his client was the rightful PDP candidate and won the primary election for the constituency.

For his part, Dr. Olatuke Counsel for Chief Dozie Nwankwo, objected to granting of the application, arguing that it would lead to the alteration of their petition, maintaining that PDP had no candidate in the election.

Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Esther Haruna, reserved ruling on the matter until May 17, after listening to submissions from parties in the matter.

OBY ARINZE