Awka – Sen. Uche Ekwunife (PDP-Anambra Central) on Monday testified before the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal for Anambra, insisting that she won the March 28 senatorial poll in the state.
Chief Victor Umeh and his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliancae (APGA), had filed a petition challenging the declaration of Ekwunife on grounds of alleged electoral malpractices.
Umeh had in the petitions, complained of infractions in many polling units favourable to Ekwunife and contended that he won the election.
However, during cross examination by counsel to INEC, PDP and Umeh, Ekwunife maintained that she was duly nominated by the National Working Committee of PDP to contest the election.
She also alleged that there were infractions in some polling units in Anaocha, Njikoka and Awka North local council areas, where Umeh was declared winner.
“The infractions reported by the petitioner and that mentioned in my reply are minor and not substantial enough to cancel the poll,” the lawmaker maintained.
Earlier, INEC’s only witness in the petition, Mr Christian Nsogbu, said the issuance of ballot papers in pieces complained by APGA and its candidate was not an infraction as it did not affect the credibility of the poll.
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Nsogbu, who was the Electoral Officer for Idemili North, said that there were no reports of anomaly or reports of alleged stealing of EC40A during the election.
The tribunal, led by Justice Nayai Aganaba, adjourned the matter till Tuesday for continuation of hearing, to enable the PDP National Legal Adviser to testify. (NAN)
