Ogah Accuses Minister Onyejeocha of Forgery in 2023 Election Tribunal Battle

In a dramatic escalation of post-election tensions, Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, a sitting member of the House of Representatives representing the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State, has formally petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, of presenting forged documents during the 2023 Election Petition Tribunal.

Ogah’s petition, dated April 14, 2024, was officially acknowledged by INEC at its national headquarters in Abuja on April 29, 2025. The lawmaker, who chairs the House Committee on AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, alleged that Onyejeocha submitted 63 falsified polling unit results to challenge his electoral victory—documents which he claimed bore INEC stamps but were neither issued nor certified by any INEC office, state or national.

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Forgery Allegations Rock Political Arena

According to Ogah, the results submitted by the minister were intended to mislead the tribunal and reverse his victory in the 2023 National Assembly elections. INEC had declared Ogah the winner with 11,822 votes, against Onyejeocha’s 8,752. However, the minister contested the result first at the tribunal in Umuahia and later at the Court of Appeal—both courts dismissed her claims, affirming Ogah’s win.

In his petition, Ogah asserted that the forged documents were presented during these legal proceedings and argued that their use constituted a serious electoral offense. He further stated that he delayed filing the complaint to ensure he could gather substantial evidence and documentation, including certified true copies of the original results, tribunal rulings, and digital data from INEC’s iREV portal, which all validated his election.

“I am constrained to write in a bid to make my contribution to the ongoing efforts at sanitising our electoral system,” Ogah wrote in the petition. He emphasized that any attempt to use forged documents in court not only undermines the democratic process but also calls into question the integrity of electoral disputes across the nation.

The lawmaker appealed to INEC to conduct a thorough investigation and consider prosecuting those responsible for the forgery, stressing that such actions must not go unpunished if electoral integrity is to be upheld.

Onyejeocha Denies Allegations, Labels Them a Media Stunt

Reacting swiftly to the accusations, Minister Nkeiruka Onyejeocha dismissed the allegations as a calculated distraction. Through a statement issued by her media aide, she accused Ogah of attempting to deflect attention from his own legal troubles, including a defamation suit stemming from comments he allegedly made about a tribunal judge.

“All the allegations in the petition are false. They have been trashed long ago,” the statement read. “Ogah has a defamation case coming up tomorrow; he accused a judge of collecting bribes from the Minister. He knows the court may likely indict him, so this is just media propaganda to distract attention from his own legal troubles.”

Onyejeocha’s team maintains that the minister’s legal challenge during the election tribunal followed due process and was dismissed on its merits. They argued that Ogah’s new claims are part of a political strategy designed to generate public sympathy and stain her public image ahead of future political contests.

Observers, however, note that the seriousness of Ogah’s allegations—specifically involving forged INEC documents bearing official stamps—will require a concrete response from the electoral body, especially as Nigeria continues to grapple with concerns over electoral transparency and judicial accountability.

INEC Acknowledges Petition, May Investigate

The Independent National Electoral Commission confirmed receiving Ogah’s petition, though it has yet to issue an official statement on the matter. Sources within INEC suggest the petition will undergo a preliminary review, after which a formal investigation could be launched, particularly if certified evidence is submitted as claimed.

Legal experts say that if proven, the use of forged electoral documents in a tribunal case could lead to serious legal consequences, including criminal prosecution under the Electoral Act and other relevant laws.

Section 122 of the Electoral Act 2022 criminalizes the use or presentation of forged documents in any electoral process, with penalties including fines and imprisonment. Given that the documents in question were allegedly used in a court proceeding, legal analysts suggest the matter may also attract interest from the judiciary and law enforcement agencies.

Ogah’s insistence on pursuing this issue long after the conclusion of the appeal process signals a deeper concern about maintaining credibility in the system. “This isn’t just about my seat,” he said in a statement to journalists. “It’s about making sure no one can undermine the will of the people with fraudulent tactics and get away with it.”

As the political drama unfolds, all eyes remain on INEC’s next steps and whether the Commission will investigate the claims independently or collaborate with legal authorities to pursue prosecution.

This case not only brings renewed focus to Nigeria’s electoral processes but also reignites the debate over how effectively institutions like INEC and the judiciary can safeguard the sanctity of elections.