Delta South: Tribunal Sacks Senator Manager, Orders Fresh Election

The Election Petitions Tribunal Sitting in Asaba has sacked Senator James Manager as the lawmaker representing Delta South senatorial district at the National Assembly.

Delivering judgement on Saturday, the Chairman of a three-man panel led by Justice Chioma Onyeabor, cancelled the election and ordered for a fresh one within 90 days.

Justice Onyeabor was ruling on the petition filed by Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, a former Delta State Governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election.

Uduaghan had approached the Tribunal seeking the nullification of the election over gross electoral malpractices during the February 23 poll.

In a petition filed by his lawyer, Thomson Okpoko, the former governor told the Tribunal that the National Assembly poll in Delta South senatorial district was marred by massive rigging and other irregularities.

He, therefore, prayed the panel to cancel the election and order a fresh election.

In her ruling, Justice Onyeabor held that the petitioners were able to prove their claims of over-voting in the six local government areas under contention.

Counsel to Senator Manager, Selekowei Larry, in his reaction said his client would appeal the judgement of the Tribunal.