Tribunal sacks PDP reps member in Delta

The member representing Ethiope Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Mr Benson Roland Igbakpa, has been sacked by the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

Igbakpa was earlier declared the winner of the 2019 election in the last general elections under the umbrella of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

His seat, the tribunal ruled on Friday, is to be taken over by his opponent and petitioner, Chief Halims Agoda of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Agoda had urged the tribunal to declare him as the rightful winner of the 23rd February 2019 National Assembly Election in the constituency, arguing that the exercise was marred by electoral irregularities.

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The APC candidate had told the tribunal to cancel the election or, in the alternative, declare him the winner having polled the highest number of valid votes cast during the election.

Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice A.M. Abubakar, while delivering the judgement on Friday, after listening to the issues raised, declared Agoda as the rightful winner of the election.

The tribunal, therefore, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the Certificate of Return earlier issued to Igbakpa, and re-issue same to Agoda, the APC candidate.

Speaking immediately after the judgment, Agoda, who thanked the judiciary for the courage to right the wrong, dedicated the victory to the people of Ethiope Constituency who voted him as member of the National Assembly.