The Anambra State Election Petition Tribunal has upheld the election of Stella Oduah as the Senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
Senator Oduah, who is now the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Appropriation in the Senate, floored the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), that of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and 18 others, to win Anambra North Senate seat.
Oduah polled 113,989 votes; the APGA candidate polled 59,937 votes while Mr Nelson Onubogu of the APC polled 11,995 votes.
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate in the election, Chinedu Emeka had challenged the election, alleging that Senator Oduah was not qualified to contest the election.
The petitioner also alleged that there were electoral malpractices which influenced the victory of the two-term Senator.
He went on to accuse the Senator of still being a member of APGA as at the time of the election, adding that part of the process contravened the Electoral Act.
Delivering its ruling, the tribunal held that the allegations against her and against the election process could not be substantiated.
Justice Esther Haruna said the petitioner failed to prove his allegations beyond reasonable doubt and therefore ruled that Senator Oduah was validly elected.
The tribunal also affirmed the election of Valentine Ayika of the PDP, representing Anaocha, Njikoka and Dunukofia Federal Constituencies.
Ayika’s election was challenged by APGA candidate, Dozie Nwankwo.
