Senator Andy Uba

The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Anambra state has fixed Oct. 5 for adoption of addresses in the petition by Ernest Ndukwe of APGA against Sen. Andy Uba of PDP.

This followed the conclusion of hearing on the petition before the three-member panel headed by Justice Nayai Aganaba in Awka on Tuesday.

Ndukwe and his party had filed the petition challenging the victory of Uba in the March 28 poll for Anambra South senatorial zone on the grounds that the election was not in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act 2010.

The Electoral Officer for Ihiala Local Government Area during the poll, Mr Akinmayo Akinbade, who testified under cross examination during Tuesday proceedings, informed the tribunal that INEC result sheets were customised with name and codes.

Akinbade said that once the name or code on the result sheet was altered, the result form would no longer be an original result sheet.

He admitted that the chart in his disposition was based on information received from INEC officials in the seven local government areas in the zone.

He said that he received a message from INEC state headquarters in Awka directing him to resort to manual accreditation when the card reader machine failed.

Earlier, Ndukwe maintained that he won the poll and alleged that results were allotted to the PDP even in some polling units where election materials were not distributed.

The APGA candidate also argued that Uba was not duly nominated by the party to contest the senatorial poll, urging the tribunal to nullify the election of Uba and declare him winner.

However, Uba in his defence, posited that elections held in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act.

The senator further maintained that he was duly nominated by his party to contest the poll and that INEC declared him winner after garnering majority of lawful votes cast in the election. (NAN)