From Douglas Blessing, Port Harcourt
A non governmental organisation under the aegis, Niger Delta Rights Advocates (NDRA), has hailed the decision of an Appeal Court in Lagos, for its ruling in favour of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, over the general election.
Kalu who is representing Bende Frderal Constituency of Abia state, has been in court over his victory at the February 25, 2023 election.
The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia had previously struck out Action alliance (AA’s) petition against Kalu in August.
The decision was because the party’s candidate, Ifeanyi Igbokwe, denied filing any suit against Kalu and claimed that he was impersonated.
Igbokwe subsequently reported the impersonation to the police and the Department of the State Service (DSS), calling for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
In a ruling delivered last weel, the appeal court dismissed the matter, describing it as an “academic exercise.”
In a statement signed at the weekend, by the NDRA National Chairman, Bright Ngolo, recalled that “our organisation had raised alarm over the activities of fifth columnists who had impersonated the candidate of the Action Alliance in that election to surreptitiously sponsor a petition at National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, Abia state against the Deputy Speaker”.
