BREAKING: Delta South Senatorial: Tribunal Orders Supplementary Election Within 90 Days In Warri South LGA

The National and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunal in Asaba, Delta State, has ordered a supplementary election in a petition brought against the victory of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Delta South Senatorial District candidate, Senator Joel Onowakpo-Thomas by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), candidate, Michael Diden, within 90 days in Warri South Local government area of the state.

Honourable Diden and his party, the PDP, in their petition marked EPT/DT/SEN/ 01/2023, are asking the tribunal to void INEC’s declaration of candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr Ewomazino Thomas Joel-Onowakpo as Senator-elect.

They predicated their request on the grounds that Joel-Onowakpo, “was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the election” and the his election “was invalid by reason of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.”

The petitioners amongst others are seeking an order of the tribunal, “collating the results of the election conducted in Warri South Local Government Area to the lawful votes recorded in favour of the parties and declare the winner of the election based on the collation.”

BIGPEN NIGERIA https://bigpenngr.com) reports that Delta South Senatorial District comprises of 8 local government area of Warri South, Warri North, Warri South-west, Isoko North, Isoko South, Bomadi, Patani and Burutu local government areas.

Prof. Anthony Peretimina, Returning Officer for Delta South Senatorial Election had announced the APC’s candidate as winner of the Delta South Senatorial poll having scored a total of 49, 955 votes cast at the election.

The returning officer had also announced PDP’s candidate as 1st runners up having polled a total of 47, 656 votes cast at the election.

The petitioner held that election was held in all the eight LGAs consisting of the Delta South Senatorial District, but INEC refused to include results from Warri South LGA in its final computation of results and subsequent declaration of the APC as winner of the senatorial election in the district.

The tribunal agreed of the Petitioner’s claims and declared that the rerun election should be held only in Warri South council where the election was reportedly cancelled.

Details later…