In a recent development, the Ebonyi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, situated in Abuja, has dismissed the legal petition filed by Prof. Benard Odoh, representing the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), against Governor Francis Nwifuru, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, who led the three-member panel, rendered the judgment, emphasizing that the petitioners lacked the necessary legal standing to initiate the lawsuit. The tribunal ruled that the issues raised in the petition pertained to the internal affairs of the APC.
It’s worth noting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had previously declared Governor Nwifuru as the winner of the Ebonyi State governorship election held on March 18.
Dissatisfied with this electoral outcome, Prof. Benard Odoh and APGA submitted their petition, identified as EPT/EB/GOV/01/2023, against INEC, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, and the APC. Their primary argument revolved around the alleged improper nomination of Nwifuru by the APC. They claimed that Nwifuru was still a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the Speaker of the House of Assembly when the APC nominated him.
However, the tribunal’s verdict clarified that APGA had neglected to challenge a prior Federal High Court judgment affirming Governor Nwifuru’s defection.
