After a protracted legal battle, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has delivered its verdict on the petition filed by the All Progressives Party (APC) candidate in the Enugu North and South National Assembly Elections, Hon. Juliet O. Egbo, against the victory of Hon. Chimaobi Sam Atu of the Labour Party. In a unanimous decision, the five-man panel of Justices dismissed the petition for lacking in merit.
Hon. Egbo had contested the nomination of Hon. Atu of the Labour Party and alleged voters' intimidation during the election. However, her petition was previously dismissed in July by the three-man panel at the National Assembly Elections petition tribunal in Enugu for lacking merit. Unsatisfied with this outcome, the APC took the case to the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which has now concurred with the tribunal's decision. The Court of Appeal also described the appeal as a mere academic exercise and a waste of judicial time.
This judgment effectively brings to an end the protracted legal battle between the Labour Party and APC candidates in the February 2023 National Assembly Election in Enugu North and South Federal Constituency.
Hon. Chimaobi Atu, who was declared the winner of the February elections with over 65,000 votes, expressed his gratitude to his supporters and constituents. He stated, "This judgment has brought to a close the arduous legal contest that has shadowed our shared victory." He pledged to redouble his efforts to fulfill the promises made during the campaigns, emphasizing the importance of democratic values and the people's will.
Atu also praised the strength of democratic institutions in the nation and their commitment to upholding the people's will. He extended his gratitude to God, emphasizing that the victory in the courtroom reaffirmed the faith in the democratic process.
In response to the ruling, the APC candidate, Hon. Juliet Egbo, expressed her dissatisfaction with both the Court of Appeal and the tribunal's decisions. She attributed the outcome to the will of God and thanked her supporters for their unwavering support throughout the legal battle.
