Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Honourable Amobi Ogah, has filed a formal petition before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Honourable Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, of forging polling unit results during the 2023 National Assembly elections.
In the petition dated April 14, 2025, titled “Forgery, Uttering and Tendering of Allegedly Forged Polling Unit Result Sheets Arising from the 2023 General Elections in Respect of Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State by Hon. Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha,” Hon. Ogah alleged that Onyejeocha presented fake documents during the tribunal hearing for the constituency election.
According to the lawmaker, who currently represents Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State, the forged results were tendered as evidence by Onyejeocha during her attempt to overturn his victory at the election tribunal.
“Though time does not run against criminal complaints, this petition is being submitted now after I took time to gather relevant evidence to support proper investigation and possible prosecution,” Ogah wrote.
He recounted that following the 2023 polls, INEC declared him the winner and duly issued him a Certificate of Return. However, Onyejeocha, who also contested the seat, challenged the result at the Election Tribunal sitting in Umuahia.
Ogah explained that he had obtained certified true copies of all polling unit, ward, local government area, and constituency results from INEC’s offices in Umuahia and Abuja, including records from the IReV portal and used them in his defence before the tribunal.
To his surprise, the minister reportedly presented a different set of 63 polling unit result sheets, which bore what appeared to be INEC’s certification but differed entirely from the official records issued to him by the commission.
“These 63 result sheets were completely different from the authentic ones issued and certified by your offices. INEC staff in Umuahia and the ICT unit in Abuja denied knowledge of the documents Onyejeocha tendered,” he claimed.
Ogah insisted the documents presented by the minister were forged and called on INEC to immediately commence a full investigation and prosecute all those involved.
He added that the certified records of the tribunal and the judgments of both the tribunal and the Court of Appeal affirm that the results tendered by Onyejeocha were not genuine INEC documents.
“I will provide your investigation team with both the authentic and allegedly forged documents, all of which are certified by the tribunal registry,” Ogah promised, further stating his willingness to cooperate fully.
He also warned that should INEC fail to act promptly, he would seek an order of mandamus from the courts to compel the commission to act.
Ogah concluded his petition by urging INEC to uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process by addressing the alleged criminal act.