September 08, (THEWILL) – The Election Tribunal in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to conduct fresh elections in some polling units in the Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency of the State within 90 days.
In its decision, the tribunal directed INEC to immediately withdraw the certificate previously awarded to the member representing the Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Fred Agbedi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Additionally, the tribunal has mandated INEC to organise a fresh election for approximately 26,000 voters, who were unlawfully excluded from the initial election.
The legal proceedings were initiated by Michael Bless Olomu, a candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), who had contested the election.
Olomu contended that he should be declared as the rightful winner of the election, due to incidents of violence that marred the electoral process.
He alleged that the violence, which was reportedly orchestrated by the opposition, had a significant impact on the election’s integrity.
Specifically, Olomu said the election did not take place in five wards, yet results were collated. These wards include Ward 5 (Ebedebiri), Ward 11 (Ofoni, Sagbama Local Government Area), Ward 12 (Ekeremor Local Government Area), along with Wards 3 and 4 in Ofoni, Sagbama Local Government Area.
In a response, Chief Fred Agbedi, who represents Ekeremor/Sagbama Federal Constituency, said he was ready to take part in the supplementary election.
