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By Madu Obi
The Labour Party, LP, senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South senatorial zone, Mr. Linus Okorie has described as illegal, the rumoured plan by the Independent National electoral commission, INEC, to conduct a fresh election for the zone when the petition challenging the declaration of former Governor Dave Umahi as the winner is still pending in court.
Okorie had draged the All Progressives Congress, APC, and David Umahi, now a Minister, to court for allegedly rigging, manipulating and perpetrating other irregularities during the election.
He alleged that INEC was allegedly planning to conduct a fresh election to replace former Governor David Umahi who resigned his position in the Senate to become Minister of works.
Already, Dave Umahi's younger brother, Austin is rumoured to be planning to replace his brother in the Red Chambers of the national assembly, as his posters have flooded the entire senatorial zone.
Okorie, a two time member of the House of Representatives, who represented Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo federal constituency in the national assembly said: "Today, the election petition tribunal adopted the final addresses of all the parties.
After today, the tribunal will reseerve judgement, that may be next week.
"If that judgement is given, and if the court decides that it was Umahi who won that election, then two things will happen."
"If nobody goes to the Court of Appeal to challenge it, INEC will fix a date for a new election in which case, anybody can participate. But if the court does not rule that way, INEC can do nothing."
"There will be no election until the final determination of the 2023 Ebonyi South senatorial election in court, starting from the tribunal and maybe to Court of Appeal, if any party feels dissatisfied with whatever the tribunal rules. The only person that cannot appeal now, is David Umahi because he is no longer in the process."
Okorie, who expressed optimism of getting victory in the court, added: "I ran that election and clearly my people voted for me, but we are in court, and I expect that the court will give me justice."
" As a law abiding citizen, I will axcept the ruling of the court. But if I'm not satisfied with the ruling of the tribunal, I will proceed to the Court of Appeal".
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