Alleged forgery:Rep Ogah talks tough as court paves way for prosecution of Minister

By Steve Oko

Member representing Isuikwuato Umunneochi federal constituency, Hon . Amobi Ogah, has vowed to stoutly resist any form of manipulation of election results in the constituency as the 2027 election gradually gather momentum.

The lawmaker spoke with our Correspondent after securing a court order to apply for an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to investigate and prosecute the Minister of State for Labour, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, over alleged forgery of election results in the constituency in 2023.

The alleged forgery was said to have occurred in 63 polling units in the constituency during the 2023 national assembly election won by Hon. Ogah of the Labour Party.

Ogah and others contested against Onyejeocha who was the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and a serving four-term lawmaker at the time.

Dissatisfied with the outcome of the poll, Onyejeocha headed for the tribunal, but after a protracted legal battle, Ogah’s victory was upheld by the court, even as President Ahmed Tinubu later appointed Onyejeocha into his cabinet.

However, Rep Ogah, later dragged INEC to court, praying the court to compel the electoral umpire to investigate and prosecute Onyejeocha for forgery of electoral results.

Ogah in the suit marked : FHC/ABJ/CS/1308/2025, and filed before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, also urged the court to make any other order(s) as it might deem necessary.

Ruling on the application, Hon. Justice M.G Umar, granted the prayers of the Applicant against INEC.

A certified true copy of the Court order dated October 15, 2025, and sighted by our Correspondent, granted the Applicant leave to apply for an order compelling INEC to investigate and prosecute Onyejeocha.

It read in part:”An Order is hereby made granting leave to the Applicant to apply for an Order of Mandamus against the Respondent compelling the Respondent to investigate and prosecute Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha for the electoral offence of forging the election results of Polling Units within the Isiukwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State”.

The case was adjourned till November 11 for hearing.

Speaking with our Correspondent, Ogah said he decided to pursue the case to ensure that “no electoral offender goes unpunished.”

Insisting that the era of subverting the people’s will was over, Ogah vowed to collaborate with other stakeholders and the people to pursue the matter till the end, saying it is not about himself but the credibility of the electoral process.

In a swift response, Onyejeocha said there was no cause for alarm, stressing that her major preoccupation was how to assist President Tinubu deliver on her mandate.

She said:”This is just an ex parte order granting Amaobi Ogah leave or in normal english, permission to file the main motion on notice to be served on INEC for an order of mandamus or in normal English, a compelling order on INEC to investigate and or prosecute his frivolous claim of forgery of the said polling units result.

“At the tribunal, he could not establish the alleged forgery. A staff of INEC from the IT department Abuja, tendered all the alleged forged and the entire polling units result and the tribunal admitted same in evidence as exhibit.

“The witness of Amaobi from the legal department of INEC Umuahia under cross examination confirmed that the result tended by my legal team was certified by INEC and that she signed same.”

The Minister said she was “not a party to the order and will not be a party in the main motion on notice to be filed where INEC will defend the suit against her by Amaobi Ogah.”

“Hon Onyejeocha is busy, I mean,
very busy with her commendable work of assisting Mr president to deliver his Renewed Hope Agenda for Nigerians.

“There should be no panic mode, 2027 election will end some rantings”, she added.