The election petitions tribunal sitting in Awka, Anambra State capital, on Friday, affirmed the victory of the member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Afam Ogene.
His victory was affirmed against the petition of the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Chukwuka Onyema, who was defeated at the polls.
Ogene described the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal verdict that declared him as the authentic winner of the February House of Representatives election in Ogbaru, as a “true validation of the will of the people and the grace of God.”
Ogene contested the Ogbaru Federal Constituency election in Anambra State under the Labour Party and was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission after a supplementary election in the constituency on April 15.
Onyema, who held three tenures of office, had proceeded to the tribunal to challenge Ogene’s victory.
According to INEC records, the LP candidate scored 10,851 votes of the total votes cast, followed by the candidate of the PDP who polled 10,619 votes, while the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Arinze Awogu, came third with 10,155 votes.
The election in Ogbaru Federal Constituency was declared inconclusive by the INEC, after the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections.
Speaking after the judgment, Ogene expressed gratitude to God for the victory and his grace to represent his constituents at the House of Representatives.
He also thanked the Ogbaru people for their selfless support, encouragement, and prayers, adding that the victory would further energize him to continue to provide quality representation for the people.
He extended hands of fellowship to the PDP candidate and urged him to avoid the temptation of further judicial brickbats.
“I want to especially appreciate God for His faithfulness in always ensuring that the light which He lit for the people would never be extinguished by the shenanigans of those who seek to exalt themselves against His will and His divine agenda for ndi Ogbaru.
“I also want to sincerely appreciate the entire Ogbaru people, irrespective of political or social divides, for their steadfastness in working and praying for the good of Ogbaru.
“We are remarkably a peaceful people, and should not allow politics or personal interest of the political class or politically exposed people to divide or destroy us.
“The Ogbaru Federal Constituency is not a private estate of anyone or group of individuals. Leadership positions are entrusted to individuals at a time, to work for, and protect the interest of the people. It should never be a do-or-die affair, because it is only God that determines who should lead the people at any given time.
“I have won elections in the past. I also lost the election in 2015 as an incumbent representative. But I just moved on and waited for God’s own time. I didn’t take my opponent to the court, because I considered that doing so would hurt the interest of Ogbaru as tribunal distractions would impact adversely on the quality of representation that the people deserve.
“It is in this light that I pay glowing tribute to my brother and APGA candidate in the election, Arinze Awogu, for electing to align with the people’s will, by refusing to go to the Tribunal.
“Ogbaru deserves the best and should demand the best, but such legitimate aspiration would be jeopardized, should we continue to allow politics of acrimony to erode our oneness and the political space.
“Once again, I congratulate the good people of Ogbaru, because, with this vital victory, we shall now concentrate fully on the service of the people, in the true sense of representative democracy. I also say kudos to the judiciary, whose judgment remarkably aligns with the will of the Ogbaru electorate,” Ogene added.