The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Owerri, yesterday nullified the election of Mr. Ikechukwu Amuka of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Ideato South constituency in Imo State House of Assembly.
The court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commissio (INEC) to immediately issue certificate of return to Mrs. Nkechinyere Ugwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the position.
Delivering the judgment which lasted for more than three hours, the three-man panel led by Justice P.I. Idong, affirmed that Amuka presented forged West Africa Examination school certificate result to INEC to contest the April 11, 2015 election.
The tribunal further ordered the speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Chief Acho Ihim, to immediately swear-in Ugwu as the genuine winner of the April 11, state legislative election for Ideato South.
Reviewing evidences and submissions by the parties, the court noted that the photograph on the original WAEC results tendered by Amuka was that of one Kevin I. Amuka who attended St. Peter Claver Seminary, Okpala.
It maintained that subjects claimed to have been written by the respondent was doubtful, noting that the respondent failed to prove to the panel that he at the time of the said election was qualified by law to contest.
The court stated that after comparing the picture and the physical appearance of the first respondent, it was clear that the picture on the result does not belong to the first respondent.
"With the evidence before this panel, we are convinced that that the first respondent presented forged certificate to INEC and therefore lied on oath and should be prosecuted for perjury and forgery by INEC," the tribunal stated.