From Chris Gaga, Makurdi 

The National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, has declared Mr Samson Okwu of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) as winner of the March 23, National Assembly election  for Oju/Obi Federal Constituency.

The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) had declared Hon.

Delivering Judgement on the petition filed by Samson Okwu against Mr David Ogewu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance today the Tribunal Chairman Justice A.A Adeleye ordered The Independent National  Electoral Commission(INEC) to immediately issue a certificate of return to Mr Samson Okwu while the earlier certificate of return issued to Mr David Ogewu of APGA be withdrawn.

According to the Tribunal Chairman, all the witnesses called by the petitioner testified to the fact that election results for Obi local government were not collated by the Oju/Obi returning officer, adding that the petitioner, Mr Samson Okwu was able to prove that the collation and declaration of the APGA candidate, Mr David Ogewu was in non-compliance with the electoral law 

In his ruling, Justice Adeleye further stated that evidence before the tribunal shows that election in Obi was peacefully conducted but the returning officer did not wait to collate it based on allegation that there was apprehension which made him to only announce the result from Oju.

The Tribunal Chairman further stated that the electoral  returning officer for Oju/Obi federal constituency should not have declared David Ogweu as winner of the election in a situation where the result of Obi local government of over 59,000 registered voters was not declared.

In his argument earlier,counsel to Mr Samson Okwu Kenneth Ikonne(SAN) pointed out that the collation of result from Oju had some mathimatical errors and the tribunal agreed with him that  two hundred and fifty two votes has no origin.  The counsel to the 2nd respondent, Mr David Ogewu did not disprove the claim.

The two hundred and fifty two votes out of the total votes gotten by the APGA candidate in Oju was however deducted which brought the total votes in the two local govt for Mr David Ogewu to 13,306 votes , while the petitioner Mr Samson Okwu total votes was put at 14, 300.  

Justice Adeleye however said that the Tribunal has power to add up valid votes in the two local govt and accordingly noted that in the final collated result Samson Okwu of the Peoples Democratic Party led with a total of 994 votes 

Reacting to the judgment,the chairman of Obi Local govt  Mr Joseph  Ipenyi described the judgment as wonderful and a victory for the Igede people.

He however called on the candidate of the APGA Mr David Ogewu to embrace Mr Samson Okwu the House of Representative member for Oju/Obi federal Constituency to chart a way forward for the development of Igede land.

The member representing Obi at the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Peter Oche applauded th  ruling, saying it has lifted the burden of sleepless nights on the Igede nation. 

Our Correspondent reports that the 2nd respondent, David Ekwu of APGA who was not issued certificate of return since the election wasclast week handed a certificate of return following an Appeal court order.