Burutu Federal Constituency: Tribunal Reaffirms Pondi’s Victory

By Hannah Nathan, Warri

National Assembly election tribunal sitting in Asaba, on Monday has reaffirmed the election victory of Rt. Hon. Julius Pondi, member representing Burutu Federal Constituency in the House Of Representatives.

It was learnt the candidate of the APC, Dr. Agbeotu had challenged the victory of Pondi, alleging electoral fraud in the February 25, National Assembly elections in Burutu.

However, the tribunal had on Monday dismissed the petition of the All Progressives Congress and, reaffirmed the election victory of Pondi as winner of the February national assembly polls.

Congress gathered Pondi, the two-term member of the House Representatives, makes history by clinching the seat for three consecutive terms during the 2023 national assembly polls.

It would be recalled that Pondi of the Peoples Democratic Party polled a total of 11,863 to beat his closest rival, Dr Agbeotu of the All Progressives Congress, who scored 5,469 votes.

Pondi was subsequently declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission having polled the highest number of valid votes cast.

Investigation showed that Pondi became the first politician to win the Burutu Federal Constituency seat for three consecutive terms.