By Praise Necherem
The Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial Zone, Victor Umeh, has denied accusation that he indulged in electoral malpractice to win his election into the Senate last January.
He denied that irregularities marred the election that made him a senator, adding that the election was a walkover after defeating his opponents overwhelmingly.
Umeh stated this over the weekend at the election tribunal for cross-examination in a petition filed against him by Mr. Nkem Ekweozor, a candidate of the Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP) in the January 13 rerun election.
The lawmaker said the election was peaceful, stressing that no security threats or invasions were registered anywhere in all the seven local government areas where the election took place.
Meanwhile, a mild drama occurred at the tribunal when his opponent, Ekweozor, a lawyer, broke down in tears while challenging Umeh’s election.
Ekweozor, who represented himself at the tribunal, could not continue half way during his cross-examination of Umeh as he lowered his face and began to cry, cleaning his face with a white handkerchief.
The chairman of the tribunal, Justice H. A. Olusiyi, who could not believe what he was seeing asked, “What is happening here? You are crying. What for? Oh, my God, a lawyer crying in court? This is unusual. How will all these people in court see you? Do you think they will hire you tomorrow to defend them? I have not seen a thing like this before; a lawyer crying in court?
“Counsel this not the right thing to do. We (lawyers) are trained not to be emotional. This is not the final court; if you don’t get what you want here, you can go upstairs. Lawyers don’t cry.”
Responding, Ekweozor apologised for his outburst, saying, “My Lord I’m sorry for this. I was crying for justice. My opponents here want to intimidate me. My lord, I am weeping for justice. I am sorry.”
Ekweozor had, while cross-examining Umeh, accused him of screening himself to emerge the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in 2014 when he was still the national chairman of the party.
But in his response, Umeh said he was not a member of the APGA screening committee during the exercise, neither was he a member of the screening committee which was properly constituted according to APGA guidelines and constitution.
He listed Mr. Tayo Sowunmi and Mr. Ifeanyi Mbaeri as chairman and secretary of the screening committee, respectively, but told the court that he could not remember the name of the third member.
Justice Olusiyi, while adjourning the matter to 12th July for adoption of addresses, asked the parties to file their written addresses.
Briefing journalists after the court session, Umeh said the petitioner constituted little threat to his seat at the National Assembly but decided to come in obedience to the law in his usual habit of not wanting to circumvent rules.
It would be recalled that the election in contention was originally conducted in 2015 and won by Mrs. Uche Ekwunife but was nullified following the petition of Umeh.
The rerun, which was on the basis of the original nomination, barred the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from contesting and was won by Umeh with a wide margin. https://orientdailynews.com.ng/politics/umeh-denies-rigged-senate/ Lalasticlala seun mynd44 |
