The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos at the weekend set aside the judgment of the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal which sat in Enugu nullifying the victory of Barr. Cyriacus Sunday Umeha, of Ezeagu/Udi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
The three-man Justices of the Apallate Court voided the decision of the trial tribunal on the ground that the lower court erred in law when it came to the “preposterous conclusion” that Umeha, of the Labour Party (LP) did not resign his membership of his former political party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The court held that issues of nomination and sponsorship of candidates are entirely pre-election matter which ought not have been brought to or adjudicated at the lower tribunal.
Earlier, Justice A.M. Abubakar who led the trial tribunal had declared Chieg Festus Uzor of the PDP as the winner of the 25 February poll.
Not satisfied with the decision, Labour Party and her candidate, proceeded to the Court of Appeal praying the court to void the judgment of the lower court.
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