Appeal Court sacks LP Senator, declares new winner, details emerge

The former national organising secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Colonel Austin Akobundu (Rtd), has reportedly been declared by the Appeal Court as the rightful winner of Abia Central Senatorial District of Abia state.

A tweet by the PDP via its verified X (formerly Twitter) handle made this known on Saturday, November 4.

According to Nigeria's main opposition party, Col. Akobundu (Abia Central) and Senator Osita Ngwu (Enugu West) are the two PDP senators of southeast extraction.

This development means that Labour Party (LP's) Senator Darlington Nwokocha, would vacate his seat for Akobundu. Nwokocha is the current Senate minority whip.

Reacting to the development, Akobundu described his victory at the Appeal Court as a victory for the people.

Akobundu, who spoke through his special aide, Uche Nwosu, said the people of the senatorial district had won.

According to him, the victory is a triumph for all lovers of democracy. He hailed the people for standing behind him and thanked the judiciary for the judgment.

Dedicating the victory to God, the former minister of state for Defence, reiterated his determination to serve the people.

With the sack of Nwokocha, the total number of senators sacked so far by the appeal court from the 10th assembly has risen to four. Elisha Abbo (Adamawa North) was the first to be sacked followed by Abubakar Sadiku-Ohere (Kogi Central).

Simon Mwadkwon (Plateau North) and the Senate minority leader, was the third senator that was removed by the appeal court. It, however, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a rerun within 90 days.