From Jessica Tamaradonye, Asaba

The candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in the recently held Delta central senatorial district bye-election, O’tega Emerhor, has challenged the declaration of Emmanuel Agwuariavwodo of the People Democratic Party, PDP, as winner of the said election.

Emerhor filed a petition at the recently constituted election tribunal sitting in Asaba, asking for a declaration that there was no valid election held for the office of senator for Delta central senatorial district on October 12, 2013, as envisaged by the Electoral Act.

He is also seeking a declaration that the first respondent (Agwuariavwodo) was not duly elected by majority of votes during the bye-election, and that a fresh election should be conducted.

Secretary of the tribunal, Adamu Mohammed Aliyu confirmed to journalists in Asaba that the court had received the petition from the APC candidate.

Joined as respondents in the suit are Agwuariavwodo, the PDP; the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Delta State, Gesila Khan; the Delta State commissioner of Police, Ikechukwu Aduba and the Chief of Army Staff, Azubuike Ihejirika, a lieutenant general.

INEC had announced that Aguariavwodo polled 263,024 votes to defeat Emerhor who polled 29,075 votes and Ede Definone of the Democratic Peoples’ Party, DPP, who polled 29,055 votes.

The bye-election was conducted to fill the vacancy created at the upper chamber of the National Assembly by the death of Pius Akpor Ewherido of the DPP on June 30, this year.