AA wants Deputy Speaker’s election annulled over exclusion from ballot

<p>In his defence, Kalu tendered seven documents, including the judgment of an Abia High Court, confirming his change of name.</p>, <span>Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu. Twitter:@OfficialBenKalu</span>, <h2>The Action Alliance (AA) in Abia has asked the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia to annul the election of the House of Representatives Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu of APC.</h2>, <p>The party hinged its demand on the alleged exclusion of its name and logo from the ballot for the February 25 poll.</p>, <p>Mohammed Ndalahi (SAN), the Counsel for the party’s candidate, Ifeanyi Igbokwe, made the request during the tribunal’s sitting on Saturday.</p>, <p>Speaking under cross-examination by Ndalahi, the deputy speaker, Kalu, and APC witness, Cyril Kwubiri, alleged that Igbokwe was not validly nominated by AA, hence did not participate in the election.</p>, <p>Kwubiri, however, admitted that none of the documents he tendered in court to support his claim that Igbokwe was not validly nominated emanated from APC.</p>, <p>The three-member panel, led by Justice Samson Gang, adjourned sitting to Aug. 14 for the adoption of the final written addresses by all the parties.</p>, <p>Also, speaking under cross-examination in another suit challenging his eligibility to participate in the election, Kalu denied forging his credentials contrary to the allegation by the Labour Party Candidate, Chief Frank Chinasa.</p>, <p>Chinasa had alleged in his petition that the credentials presented to INEC by Kalu had fatal discrepancies.</p>, <p>He, therefore, urged the tribunal to nullify his election, arguing that he was unfit to participate in the poll.</p>, <p>The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tribunal on Thursday, admitted in evidence, nine different documents tendered by Chinasa to support his petition that Kalu’s credentials were fraught with discrepancies in names.</p>, <p>The petitioners had argued that Form EC9, submitted to INEC by Kalu, bore ‘Osisiogu Be