Tribunal nullifies Sagbana/Ekeremor Rep election, orders supplementary poll

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The Election Tribunal in Yenagoa, on Friday nullified the election of Hon. Fred Agbedi, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency.

The tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh elections in some polling units in the constituency.

In its decision, the tribunal directed INEC to immediately withdraw the certificate previously issued to the member representing the Constituency in the House of Representatives , Chief Fred Agbedi.

Also the tribunal mandated INEC to organise a fresh election for 20,000 voters who were unlawfully excluded from the initial election.

Michael Olomu, candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) approached the tribunal and prayed to be declared winner.

Olomu contended that he should be declared as the rightful winner of the election due to incidents of violence that marred the electoral process.

He alleged that the violence, which was allegedly orchestrated by his opponent, had a significant impact on the election’s integrity.

Specifically,Olomu said  elections did not take place in five wards yet results were collated.

These wards include Ward 5 (Ebedebiri), Ward 11 (Ofoni, Sagbama Local Government Area), Ward 12 (Ekeremor Local Government Area), along with Wards 3 and 4 in Ofoni, Sagbama Local Government Area.

In a response to the verdict, Fred Agbedi said that he was ready to take part in the supplementary election.