Tribunal nullifies LP’s victory in Eti-Osa Federal Constituency
The National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) Lagos has declared as inconclusive the election that produced Thaddeus Atta of the Labour Party (LP) as the duly elected representative for Eti-Osa Federal Constituency.
It ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a supplementary election within 90 days in 33 polling units where it found that elections did not hold.
A report in The Nation on Tuesday said the Tribunal gave its judgment on Monday night.
Atta, Babajide Obanikoro of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and singer/actor turned politician, Bankole Wellington, also known as Banky W of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) contested to represent the constituency during the February 25 election.
But INEC declared Atta the winner with 24,075 votes, defeating Wellington who polled 18,666 votes, and Obanikoro, who scored 16,901 votes.
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Reacting to the ruling Tuesday morning in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Atta expressed confidence, saying he was not sacked by the court.
“The Tribunal has simply ordered a re-run (supplementary election) in the 32 polling units where elections did not hold.
“We will continue working for Eti-Osa. I urge constituents to keep calm as we are unshaken. We will get through this together,” he said.
Also reacting on his official Instagram handle, Obanikoro hailed the judges for the ruling.
He said: “It was all smiles at the tribunal court when it was confirmed that there would be a supplementary election in several polling units under the Eti-Osa Federal constituency where the election did not take place.
“I believe that our justice system is on the right track and I praise the judges for this ruling which adheres to the components of the Constitution. Work starts now.”
“The Feb 25 election has just been rightly declared inconclusive and supplementary elections have been ordered by the court.
“INEC has been ordered to withdraw the return certificate and conduct elections in areas where it didn’t hold on Election Day.”
On his part, Banky W expressed hope in a post on X on Monday night.
“It is possible. Still,” he wrote.