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The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos has dismissed the petition brought by Mr Peter Azubuike, the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the March 18 House of Assembly election against Hon. Solomon Akpulonu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In its ruling on Thursday, the Appeal Court upheld the victory of Solomon Akpulonu representing Obingwa East constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, saying that he was duly elected. Akpulonu had earlier triumphed at the election petition tribunal sitting in Umuahia which upheld his victory. But the Labour Party candidate, not satisfied with the ruling, headed to the appellate court. But in a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-man panel, the Appeal Court held that the petitioner failed to prove that the election was marred by over-voting and non-compliance with the Electoral Act. In his reaction, Akpulonu dedicated the ruling to his constituents and to democracy, saying that the mandate given to him by his people had been preserved.