he three-man tribunal that sat over the council elections in Delta State on Tuesday annulled the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ika North-East Local Government Area of the state.
Ika North-East is the domain of the Governor-elect of the state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.
The tribunal, chaired by M.C. Unuwovo, in Asaba, the state capital, averred that the exercise was not only marred by irregularities but violated the provisions of the Electoral Act.
Declaring the election that produced the councillor representing Ward 16 in the council area, Fidelix Osinne Okoh, null and void, the tribunal ordered a rerun election within 30 days.
The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Sunday November Nwadiegwu, a lawyer, had petitioned the tribunal shortly after Okoh was declared by the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission as the winner, alleging fraud.
Nwadiegwu’s name was unlawfully substituted from Ward 16 where he contested the election to Ward 11 by the commission to dissuade his supporters and repress his growing popularity.
He prayed the tribunal to declare him winner or cancel the election to pave the way for a fresh election.
His counsel, T.O. Chukwu, lauded the tribunal for given credence to the issues raised by the parties in the matter before apportioning blames.
The Eagle Online recalled that the election was conducted by DSIEC on October 25 last year across the 25 Local Government Areas of the state.