The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, based in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has upheld the electoral victory of Martins Esin, a member of the House of Representatives representing Oron/Mbo/Okobo/Udung Uko/Urueoffong Oruko Federal Constituency. Esin, who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), secured his seat in the February 18 National Assembly Election.
In a petition filed by Mr. Robinson Edumoh and the All Progressives Congress (APC), the tribunal Judge, Justice Kudirat Jose, delivered the judgment on Friday. Justice Jose ruled that the petitioners failed to provide substantial evidence to support their allegations, which included overvoting, non-transmission of results electronically, widespread irregularities, and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
Regarding the allegation of overvoting, the tribunal held that the petitioner had made the accusation without substantiating it with evidence. The burden of proof, the judge emphasized, rested on the petitioner, and it could not be shifted to the respondent.
Furthermore, Justice Jose cited relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and clarified that the law did not mandate the electronic transmission of election results.
The judge also noted that the petitioner had not demonstrated that the results announced at the Local Government collation centers differed from those announced at the polling units.
Consequently, the tribunal dismissed the petition and declared Martins Esin as the validly elected representative for the constituency. This ruling reaffirms Esin’s status as a member of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the House Committee on Youth Development.