The member representing Awka North and South at the House of Representatives Professor Oby Lilian Orogbu was on Thursday September 7, declared winner of the Febuary 25th election by the election petition tribunal sitting in Awka, Anambra State.
ANN reports that Hon. Obi Nwankwo of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) filed a petition challenging the victory of Prof. Orogbu of the Labour Party.
The suit was filed on some of the following grounds which includs that “Orogbu did not resign from APGA, hence she is not a Labour Party member and was not duly sponsored by Labour Party. “Prof. Oby Lilian Orogbu is not the same with Orogbu Lilian Obiageli. “She did not resign as a staff of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka. “Allegation of non-compliance to the electoral law amongst others.
Joined in the suit as Respondents are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Labour Party and Hon. Prof. Oby Lilian Orogbu.
In the final written address then, the counsel to the 1st respondent, INEC had asked the tribunal to strike out the petition of APGA for lack of merit.
The counsels of the 2nd and 3rd respondents; Barr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) and Barr. Alex Ejesieme (SAN) respectively also asked the tribunal to strike out the petition, stating that the 3rd respondent was duly nominated by Labour Party through their primary election and sponsored her as their candidate, as requested by the Nigeria Constitution and Electoral Act.
They also asked the tribunal to strike out the alleged name discrepancy stating that Oby is short form of Obiageli as that is how it is conventionally written and pronounced in the South East.
Hence, the Tribunal upheld Hon. Prof. Oby Lilian Orogbu as the Member, Awka North & South Federal Constituency, House of Representatives.
Speaking in an interview after the judgement, Prof. Oby Lilian Orogbu said everyone is rejoycing because this is a mandate that was given to her by the people.
According to the lawmaker” We have already started working and we will focus on delivery quality representation.
“We have the case of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University staffs who have been working and have not been paid for the past three years. We are ensuring that they are paid
” I also have motions and bills that will be sponsored as we resume by the end of the month and hopefully, soon, things will work out fine and those that have not been paid will receive their salaries”. Orogbu concluded.
