The Court of Appeal in Enugu has overturned the election of Hon. Simon Atigwe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the representative for Igboeze North/Udenu federal constituency in the House of Representatives, reinstating Hon. Dennis Nnamdi Agbo of the Labour Party (LP) as the rightful winner.
Delivering its verdict on Wednesday, October 9, Justice H. N. Kunaza ruled in favour of Agbo, citing irregularities in the election that had previously declared Atigwe the winner. The court found that 2,000 votes had been unlawfully added to Atigwe’s total during the rerun election held on February 3, 2024, and ordered their removal.
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Agbo had initially been declared the winner of the February 25, 2023 National Assembly election but was later unseated following a challenge that led to a rerun. Atigwe emerged victorious in the rerun, prompting Agbo to file a petition, alleging discrepancies in vote computation and non-compliance with the electoral act.
After reviewing the evidence, the appellate court ruled that the correct vote tally from the February 25 election should stand. According to the revised results, Agbo secured 28,870 votes, while Atigwe managed 14,229. The court declared Agbo the winner with a final vote count of 23,221, compared to Atigwe’s 21,863.
In its ruling, the court ordered the withdrawal of Atigwe’s certificate of return and directed that it be issued to Agbo, effectively changing the representation of the Igboeze North/Udenu constituency in the House of Representatives.
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This decision comes as a major victory for the Labour Party and highlights ongoing electoral disputes in Nigeria, as political candidates continue to challenge election outcomes across the country.
The PDP is yet to respond officially to the ruling, while supporters of Agbo have hailed the verdict as a restoration of electoral justice. The case underscores the role of the judiciary in addressing electoral grievances and ensuring that results reflect the will of the electorate.
This development also marks a significant shift in the political landscape of Enugu State, where the PDP has long held sway, but the Labour Party’s growing influence is becoming increasingly evident.
In related news, PDP chieftain Rilwan Olanrewaju has commended the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government financial autonomy, calling for a collaborative approach between state governors and the federal government to ensure effective implementation of the judgment.
