By Shola Abayomi.
Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been sacked as the senator representing Abia North in the ninth Senate by the national assembly petitions tribunal sitting in Abia state.
Kalu, who’s a former governor of Abia State and the current Senate Chief Whip, was declared winner of the senatorial election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after securing 30,203 votes, to beat his main challenger, Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 20,801 votes.
Ohuabunwa, had challenged Kalu’s victory at the tribunal citing electoral irregularities.
The tribunal, in its ruling today upheld Ohuabunwa’s argument that Kalu was not duly elected, and ordered that a rerun be conducted in selected polling units within 90 days.
The selected polling units which cuts across three local government areas were identified as where votes were cancelled during the election.