* Says ground for his removal unknown to law
The House of Representatives member representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency. Hon. Francis Ejiroghene Waive, has said that the grounds for the nullification of his election by the tribunal are not known to Nigeria law.
The lawmaker, in a signed statement, disclosed that the non publication of his academic qualification, which he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on its portal, is not a ground for disqualification of a candidate, and as such, it’s alien to Nigerian law.
Waive of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared winner of the February 25 election having scored the highest number of valid votes cast by the INEC.
However, the Delta State and National Assembly Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba on Monday declared Solomon Ahwinahwi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election.
Reacting to the tribunal judgment, Waive disclosed that he fulfilled all the requirements of INEC and the law as expected of him and provided documented evidence to the tribunal, adding that INEC’s act of omission, which he wrote to them, should not be a ground for his disqualification.
The lawmaker, who rejected the tribunal’s judgment, added that he has instructed his legal team to study the judgment and immediately appeal it.
He also called his supporters and party faithful to remain calm and law-abiding as he goes on appeal to test the judgment.
