Appeal Court Upholds Labour Party’s Ogene as Authentic Winner of Ogbaru Federal Constituency Seat

In its ruling on Saturday, the Appeal Court in Abuja dismissed the appeal lodged by Hon. Chukwuka Onyema, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Ogbaru Federal Constituency seat in Anambra state. The court affirmed the victory of Labour Party candidate, Afam Victor Ogene, solidifying the earlier judgment by the Election Petition Tribunal in Awka.

Justice M. I. Sirajo, delivering the verdict, stated that Onyema’s appeal lacked merit, thereby upholding the Tribunal’s decision made on October 20, 2023. The legal battle, marked by emotional and physical strains, concluded with Ogene expressing gratitude for the grace of God that guided him throughout the challenging journey.

Ogene, who chairs the House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy, declared, “The grace of God is my greatest advocate. These judicial victories validate the will of the people and underscore God’s undeniable grace.” He promised responsible service and emphasized that the victory belongs to the constituents who entrusted him with their mandate.

Reflecting on the election process, the Tribunal’s earlier ruling on October 20, 2023, aligned with the results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on April 15, 2023. Ogene secured victory with 10,851 votes, surpassing the PDP candidate’s 10,619 votes and the third-place candidate from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) with 10,155 votes.

Ogene’s journey to victory faced a hurdle when the initial election in Ogbaru Federal Constituency was declared inconclusive by INEC after the February 25 polls. Subsequently, a rerun on April 15 took place, leading to Ogene’s triumph. Unsatisfied, Onyema challenged the result at the Tribunal, initiating a legal process that concluded with the recent Appeal Court verdict.

With this decisive ruling, Afam Victor Ogene is now confirmed as the authentic representative of Ogbaru Federal Constituency for the next four years, having successfully navigated legal challenges to secure the trust of the electorate.