The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos has affirmed the election of a member representing Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 1 in the House of Representatives, Mauchim Umezuruike.
The appellate court dismissed the suit filed against the Labour Party lawmaker by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and its candidate in the February 25, 2023 general elections.
The lower election petitions tribunal had earlier dismissed the suit filed by Ndubuisi Felix Anokwuru and the APC on October 24, 2023 in file No. CA/ABJ/EP/RV/HR/53/2023 and that of Chima Ernest Boms and the PDP in suit No. CA/ABJ/EP/RV/HR/53/2023!
The tribunal in its earlier judgment delivered by Justice Bamidele Aina described the submissions of Barrister Jubilee Chinonso, who was the lead counsel representing both the Labour Party and Hon Manuchim Umezuruike as lucid, intelligent and ex abundanti cautela in rebutting the documents and evidence and argument presented to the tribunal by the petitioners in the two election petitions.
In a final judgement delivered by Justice Yagarta Nimpar of the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos, the court dismissed all cases against Hon Manuchim Umezuruike and thereafter affirms his election into the House of Representatives as authentic and valid