The Labour Party, senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South senatorial zone, Mr Linus Okorie, has said that it is illegal for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to think of conducting a fresh election for the zone.
Okorie made this known a few hours after a youth group from Ebonyi South tipped Austin Umahi to replace his elder brother David Umahi in the Senate and campaign posters of personalities, including that of Umahi’s younger brother, flooding the zone.
According to him, there will be no election until the final determination of the 2023 Ebonyi South Senatorial Election in Court.
Recall that Okorie had dragged the All Progressive Congress (APC) and David Umahi to court to challenge the outcome of the 2023 Ebonyi South senatorial election.
Okorie, a two-time member of the House of Representatives who represented Ohaozara, Onicha, and Ivo federal constituencies in the national assembly, described the rumoured fresh election for Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone by INEC as illegal.
“Today, the Tribunal is sitting to adopt all the final addresses of all the parties. After today, they (the tribunal) will reserve judgement, which may be next week.
He continued, “If that judgement is given, if the court decides that it was Umahi who won that election, then two things will happen: if nobody goes to the Court of Appeal to challenge it, INEC will fix a date for a new election, in which case anybody can participate, but if the court doesn’t rule that way, INEC can do nothing.
“There will be no election until the final determination of the 2023 Ebonyi South senatorial election in Court, starting from the Tribunal and maybe to the Court of Appeal, if any party feels dissatisfied with whatever the Tribunal rules.
The only person that cannot Appeal now is David Umahi because he is no longer in the process,” he stated.
Okorie expressed optimism about getting victory in the Court, adding: “I ran that election, and clearly my people voted for me, but we are in court, and I expect that the court will give me justice.
I’m a law-abiding citizen; I will accept whatever ruling the court makes, but I assure you, if I’m not satisfied with the ruling of the Tribunal, I will proceed to the court of appeals.
Whatever happens ultimately, the rule of law will take its course,” he stated.
However, David Umahi is presently the Minister for Works, and the seat of Ebonyi South remains vacant in the 10th Senate.
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