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Tribunal Sacks Abia Gov. Theodore Orji, Declares PDP Candidate Ugochukwu
Winner
*Orji Kalu Says No Comment *Nass Members React
The Election Petitions Tribunal in Umuahia has nullified the election of Gov. Theodore Orji of the
Progressive Peoples' Alliance (PPA).
Delivering judgment on the petition, the tribunal Chairman, Justice Yusuf Abdullahi, declared Chief
Onyema Ugochukwu of the PDP as winner of the April 2007 gubernatorial election in Abia.
Abdullahi while setting aside the election of Orji, held that he was not qualified to contest the poll
adding that Orji and his Deputy, Chief Chris Akomas, did not resign from their offices as stipulated
by the law.
The tribunal also held that Orji was a member of the Ogwugwuakpu Secret Cult in Okija in Anambra.
Abdullahi said Orji did not come to the tribunal to refute the claim of the petitioner and that the
consequence was that the first and second respondents’ election ought to be nullified.
Abdullahi said the petitioner's witness; Mr Isaac Olisabueze's evidence on this issue was not
controverted by the respondents. He added that ``even if the ritual video was not tendered, the
tribunal would still come to the same conclusion''.
The chairman held that the argument of the respondents that the governor was not a member of the
secret cult was untenable. Abdullahi stressed that Olisabueze maintained that ``Orji, former Gov.
Uzor Kalu and his mother, Chief Eunice Uzor-Kalu, have been leaders of the secret cult in Okija since
1999".
The tribunal therefore, concluded that since the governor was at the beginning not qualified to
contest the polls, the proper thing to do was to return the man with the highest number of
votes cast in the election.
The tribunal therefore, held that the election of Orji and his deputy be set aside. The tribunal held that
the April 14 poll was not voided because of irregularities, noting that the petitioners failed to prove
that the poll was characterised by substantial non compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act
2006.
Meanwhile, the lead counsel to the governor, Chief Nnoroka Udechukwu (SAN), said they would be
contesting the tribunal verdict at the Court of Appeal.Chief Dickson Denwigwe, counsel to the
petitioner, in his reaction, said it was a victory for democracy.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was jubilation in the streets of Umuahia, Aba
and environs, with people chanting ``at last democracy has come to stay". Kalu declines comment on
governorship election judgment.
Former Abia governor, Orji Kalu, declined comment on the nullification of the election of Mr
Theodore Orji (PPA) as the governor of the state.
The Election Petitions Tribunal in a judgment read by the Chairman, Justice Yusuf Abdullahi,
declared the PDP candidate, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, as the duly elected governor of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reporter called Kalu on telephone, but he simply said, "no
comment", and hung up Kalu is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of PPA on which platform
Theodore emerged the governor of Abia in the April 14, 2007 polls.
However, some members of the National Assembly have described the nullification of the
governorship election as a good omen for democracy and national reformation.
Sen. Anthony Manzo (PDP-Taraba) described the judgment as a part of the electoral process,
saying, however, Orji still had the rights of appeal. ``It is right for people to seek redress in an
election which they participated in if they feel dissatisfied with the outcome. ``I also think that the
tribunal must have considered all the facts in the matter before arriving at that decision,'' he added.
Manzo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the entire process was a welcome development
for the country's democracy.
Rep. Hakeen Arole-Fancy (AC-Lagos) also said it was good for democracy and national reformation.
Arole-Fancy said that the various tribunal judgments were a warning to all political actors to do their
``home work very well and ensure that we play the game according to the rules. ``Any move to rig
election in the future will be counter productive as the tribunal is there to reverse any illegality''.
He called on President Umaru Yar'Adua to ensure that his electoral reform was comprehensive
enough to take care of the mode of appointment of electoral officers. Arole-Fancy equally joined
others in calling for the removal of Prof. Maurice Iwu as INEC Chairman, saying he had no moral
right to conduct any by-elections or fresh elections.
Rep. Oluwole Oke (PDP-Osun) said ``this is rule of law in action and the judgment has further tested
the workability of the constitution''. Oke said that the decision would further prove to the world that
PDP as a party was on ground and would win again.
Rep. Patrick Obahiagbon (PDP-Edo) commended the judiciary for being courageous in the
dispensation of justice. as Isiaka Akinlade (PDP-Ogun) said it was rule of law in action, commending
the judiciary for giving hope to the common man.
Rep. Abike Dabiri (AC-Lagos) applauded the judiciary, saying it had restored the people's faith in the
judicial system. Dabiri said the judgment and other judgments so far confirmed that there were
fundamental flaws in the 2007 general elections.
To Rep Lanre Agoro (PDP-Oyo) the judgment was a signal to the fact that democracy had come to
stay in Nigeria. Rep Kamil Mudashiru (PDP-Oyo) said "it is a further affirmation of the unmitigated
disaster that characterised the election in some parts of Nigeria. "It is an indictment on the credibility
of the electoral body,'' he added.
National Coordinator of Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, Emmanuel Onwubiko said it
was ``Judiciary in action'' ``The voiding of Orji's election is a further confirmation of the
independence of the judiciary. The embattled governor has the right to appeal and the outcome will
justify his next line of action,'' he said.
In his reaction, Rev. Sam Ekeledo, former Chairman, Umuahia North Local Government of Abia,
said the judgment was the will of the people. ``It exemplifies the people's triumph and this is manifest
in the jubilation in the streets. It reflects the people's expectation,'' he added. Ekeledo said his
excitement was very high, "Justice has been done.
It is not a victory for Ugochukwu alone but the people of Abia.'' "What has happened shows that the
people will show a greater sense of sanity during election campaigns in 2011,'' he added. When
NAN visited INEC Headquarters, Iwu, his CPS Andy Ezeani, and Director of Public Affairs, Segun
Adeogun were not available for comments.
Winner
*Orji Kalu Says No Comment *Nass Members React
The Election Petitions Tribunal in Umuahia has nullified the election of Gov. Theodore Orji of the
Progressive Peoples' Alliance (PPA).
Delivering judgment on the petition, the tribunal Chairman, Justice Yusuf Abdullahi, declared Chief
Onyema Ugochukwu of the PDP as winner of the April 2007 gubernatorial election in Abia.
Abdullahi while setting aside the election of Orji, held that he was not qualified to contest the poll
adding that Orji and his Deputy, Chief Chris Akomas, did not resign from their offices as stipulated
by the law.
The tribunal also held that Orji was a member of the Ogwugwuakpu Secret Cult in Okija in Anambra.
Abdullahi said Orji did not come to the tribunal to refute the claim of the petitioner and that the
consequence was that the first and second respondents’ election ought to be nullified.
Abdullahi said the petitioner's witness; Mr Isaac Olisabueze's evidence on this issue was not
controverted by the respondents. He added that ``even if the ritual video was not tendered, the
tribunal would still come to the same conclusion''.
The chairman held that the argument of the respondents that the governor was not a member of the
secret cult was untenable. Abdullahi stressed that Olisabueze maintained that ``Orji, former Gov.
Uzor Kalu and his mother, Chief Eunice Uzor-Kalu, have been leaders of the secret cult in Okija since
1999".
The tribunal therefore, concluded that since the governor was at the beginning not qualified to
contest the polls, the proper thing to do was to return the man with the highest number of
votes cast in the election.
The tribunal therefore, held that the election of Orji and his deputy be set aside. The tribunal held that
the April 14 poll was not voided because of irregularities, noting that the petitioners failed to prove
that the poll was characterised by substantial non compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act
2006.
Meanwhile, the lead counsel to the governor, Chief Nnoroka Udechukwu (SAN), said they would be
contesting the tribunal verdict at the Court of Appeal.Chief Dickson Denwigwe, counsel to the
petitioner, in his reaction, said it was a victory for democracy.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was jubilation in the streets of Umuahia, Aba
and environs, with people chanting ``at last democracy has come to stay". Kalu declines comment on
governorship election judgment.
Former Abia governor, Orji Kalu, declined comment on the nullification of the election of Mr
Theodore Orji (PPA) as the governor of the state.
The Election Petitions Tribunal in a judgment read by the Chairman, Justice Yusuf Abdullahi,
declared the PDP candidate, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, as the duly elected governor of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reporter called Kalu on telephone, but he simply said, "no
comment", and hung up Kalu is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of PPA on which platform
Theodore emerged the governor of Abia in the April 14, 2007 polls.
However, some members of the National Assembly have described the nullification of the
governorship election as a good omen for democracy and national reformation.
Sen. Anthony Manzo (PDP-Taraba) described the judgment as a part of the electoral process,
saying, however, Orji still had the rights of appeal. ``It is right for people to seek redress in an
election which they participated in if they feel dissatisfied with the outcome. ``I also think that the
tribunal must have considered all the facts in the matter before arriving at that decision,'' he added.
Manzo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the entire process was a welcome development
for the country's democracy.
Rep. Hakeen Arole-Fancy (AC-Lagos) also said it was good for democracy and national reformation.
Arole-Fancy said that the various tribunal judgments were a warning to all political actors to do their
``home work very well and ensure that we play the game according to the rules. ``Any move to rig
election in the future will be counter productive as the tribunal is there to reverse any illegality''.
He called on President Umaru Yar'Adua to ensure that his electoral reform was comprehensive
enough to take care of the mode of appointment of electoral officers. Arole-Fancy equally joined
others in calling for the removal of Prof. Maurice Iwu as INEC Chairman, saying he had no moral
right to conduct any by-elections or fresh elections.
Rep. Oluwole Oke (PDP-Osun) said ``this is rule of law in action and the judgment has further tested
the workability of the constitution''. Oke said that the decision would further prove to the world that
PDP as a party was on ground and would win again.
Rep. Patrick Obahiagbon (PDP-Edo) commended the judiciary for being courageous in the
dispensation of justice. as Isiaka Akinlade (PDP-Ogun) said it was rule of law in action, commending
the judiciary for giving hope to the common man.
Rep. Abike Dabiri (AC-Lagos) applauded the judiciary, saying it had restored the people's faith in the
judicial system. Dabiri said the judgment and other judgments so far confirmed that there were
fundamental flaws in the 2007 general elections.
To Rep Lanre Agoro (PDP-Oyo) the judgment was a signal to the fact that democracy had come to
stay in Nigeria. Rep Kamil Mudashiru (PDP-Oyo) said "it is a further affirmation of the unmitigated
disaster that characterised the election in some parts of Nigeria. "It is an indictment on the credibility
of the electoral body,'' he added.
National Coordinator of Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, Emmanuel Onwubiko said it
was ``Judiciary in action'' ``The voiding of Orji's election is a further confirmation of the
independence of the judiciary. The embattled governor has the right to appeal and the outcome will
justify his next line of action,'' he said.
In his reaction, Rev. Sam Ekeledo, former Chairman, Umuahia North Local Government of Abia,
said the judgment was the will of the people. ``It exemplifies the people's triumph and this is manifest
in the jubilation in the streets. It reflects the people's expectation,'' he added. Ekeledo said his
excitement was very high, "Justice has been done.
It is not a victory for Ugochukwu alone but the people of Abia.'' "What has happened shows that the
people will show a greater sense of sanity during election campaigns in 2011,'' he added. When
NAN visited INEC Headquarters, Iwu, his CPS Andy Ezeani, and Director of Public Affairs, Segun
Adeogun were not available for comments.