ABUJA - Two senators of the Peoples Democratic Party representing their various senatorial districts of Rivers State in the National Assembly have been sacked by the Court of Appeal in Abuja. The two senators Senator Osinakachukwu Idoezu representing Rivers South-West Senatorial District and Senator John Olaka-Nwogo representing Rivers South-East were sacked because as stated that the elections did not comply substantially with the provisions of the Electoral Act and Electoral Guidelines in the March 28, 2015 National Assembly election.
The appeal court’s unanimous judgment reversed the verdicts of the Rivers State National/State Legislative Houses Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja, which had earlier affirmed the judgments of the two senators. The appeals against the verdicts of the tribunal were filed by Senator Magnus Abbe and Otelemagba Dan-Amachree both of the All Progressive Congress.
Justice Ibrahim Gumel held that from the available evidence, including that of INEC, the March 28 poll failed to conform that the set guidelines such as the use of voter card reader machines, voter register and other election guidelines for accreditation of voters was complied with.
The appeal court also held that from available evidence, all the polling units in the two senatorial districts abandoned the use of card reader machines, thereby giving rise to manipulations. The court held that in effect, there was no proper accreditation of voters as recognised by law, adding that election without accreditation as in the cases, could not stand in the face of the law.
“An act done in contravention of the law is nothing but a nullity and illegality,” the appeal court ruled.
The court has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct fresh poll within 60 days.
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