The Edo State election petition tribunal has annulled the election of controversial Senator Ehigie Uzamere (PDP, Edo South) The tribunal also condemned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the conduct of the 2007 general elections in the state.

Uzamere had been in the eye of a storm for quite a while sequel to allegations that he abandoned his American wife with a grown kid after using her to secure residency in the United States over two decades ago.

The woman who still goes by the name Mrs Uzamere out of desperation went on youtube to state her case. She alleged that the senator abandoned her and her daughter with no forwarding address. According to her Uzamere has refused to support their daughter or acknowledge her.

In an interview with pointblanknews few months ago she produced documents like the marriage certificate to back her claim. She has also written to the senate.

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It was learnt that after his studies he relocated to Nigeria where he married again. He kept his escapades in the US a secret from his new wife and family

The tribunal accused the Commission of taking sides with political parties to win elections, just as it said that IENC officials displayed some level of negligence.

The Justice Peter Umeadi led tribunal, while delivering the judgment on the senatorial seat, said: "Two or more result sheets have the same serial number and most times are endorsed by same presiding officer."

INEC, during trials, tried to justify that anomaly by blaming it on packaging of the result sheets, but that was a hard nut to sell to the tribunal.

Explaining the annulment of Uzamere's election, who was challenged by the Action Congress (AC) candidate, Matthew Urhogide, the tribunal said: "We are quite shocked that evidence are in leaps and bounds that card-carrying members of PDP, particularly in Oredo, Ovia South West and Egor local government areas, were made INEC ad-hoc staff. That act in itself is a serious sacrilege on the above mandatory provision and a non-compliance with the electoral Act 2006.

"The Petitioner had alleged that political parties that did not contest that election or were not in existence, or whose logos were not on the ballot papers, were awarded undeserved votes; political parties like APGA, GMD, NPP and others earn votes in Oredo, Ovia North East, Egor and Orhiowon local government areas without contesting the polls. In our humble view, that tantamount to robbing Peter to pay Paul and results affected will be weeded out."

The tribunal directed INEC to conduct a fresh election to the office of Senate in Edo South senatorial district within 90 days from the date of the judgment and parties bear their respective cost of prosecuting this case.