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The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos state, on Thursday upturned the tribunal victory of the member representing Nkwerre/Nwangele/Isu/Njaba federal constituency, Ugonna Ozuruigbo.
The Court declared Harrison Nwadike, the APC candidate in the February 25 House of Representatives election the winner of the exercise.
Ozuruigbo who is a second-timer at the National Assembly and a former deputy Speaker of Imo state House of Assembly won at the lower Court (Tribunal) but unfortunately faced a reversal of his victory with the ruling of the Appellate Court on Thursday afternoon.
This decision by the Court brings to an end the prolonged legal battle surrounding the representation of the federal constituency, adjudged as the biggest in the country com rising of four LGAs.
Ozuruigbo, a former APC member under former Governor Rochas Okorocha had decamped to the PDP where he secured ticket and won at the polls.
It would however be recalled that his declaration as the winner of the election cane 63 days after the exercise due to some irregularities witnessed in the election as claimed by the INEC.
He had served a successful one year tenure at the lower chamber of the National Assembly and a two-term Imo state House of Assembly member who represented Nwangele state constituency.
With the sack of Ugonna Ozuruigbo, Imo state PDP has again lost another at the National Assembly after losing Jonas Okeke of Okigwe South federal constituency who was earlier sacked by the Appeal Court to usher in a three-term member, Chike Okafor of the APC extraction.
Meanwhile, the APC in Imo state has been erupted in jubilation as Harrison Nwadike awaits his Certificate of Return and subsequent inauguration at the NASS.
Nwadike’s victory has added Imo APC’s number, at the National Assembly, to five members.
