By Amaechi Agbo

There’s Jubiliation in Nsukka East Constituency of Enugu State as the Enugu State Election Petition Tribunal on Friday decalred Honourable Pius Onyekachi Ezugwu of the Labour Party, LP as the duly elected member representing the constituency at the Enugu State House of Assembly.

In the petition filed by Barrister Christiana Onah of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP challenging the eligibility of Honourable Ezugwu as a member of the LP, in the Saturday, March 18, 2023 elections, the three-member panel led by Justice Nusirat Umar, Chairman, ruled that her petition was a pre-election matter and struck it out for lack of merit.

The tribunal dismissed the case on the ground of incompetence and tagged the grounds upon which the case was instituted “a pre-election matter” while also affirming that determination of party membership is entirely an internal party affairs that cannot be challenged by a person who is not a member of the party.

Reacting to the ruling, Honourable Pius Ezugwu told our correspond that the judgement of the tribunal is a triumph for democracy and an affirmation that all powers belong to God and dedicated victory to the people.

“Our good Lord has once again affirmed that all power belongs to him. He is the owner and giver of every power. Today, the collective will of good people of Nsukka East ordained by God Almighty has once again triumphed over anti-masses plot of evil forces and all forms of ungodly sacrifices to thwart the wish of the masses.

“I return all the glory and honour to God Almighty and dedicate my victory at the Enugu State Election Petition Tribunal today to Him and the good people of Nsukka East State Constituency.

“I thank you all especially the youths for standing by me. You are mine, and I will continue to work for your interests and for good governance in Enugu state.
To God be all the Glory,” he said

The Enugu State Election Petition Tribunal had three justices including Justice Nusirat Umar as Chairman as well as Justice Legor Senewo and Justice Geoffrey Kamyal

Barrister Christiana Onah was not available for comments as she did not pick her calls put across to her via her mobile number by our correspondent at 3:51pm.

Interestingly, both Christiana Onah, the plaintiff and Honourable Pius Onyekachi Ezugwu, the respondent are both from the same Ogbozarra Opi Community in Nsukka Local Government, Enugu State.