Tribunal upholds Governor Mbah’s election, dismisses Edeoga’s petition
From Chinedu Nwafor, Abakaliki
The Enugu Governorship and House of Assembly elections petition Tribunal on Thursday upheld the election of Peter Mbah as the winner of 2023 election
The Tribunal chaired by Justice Kudirat Murayo Akano struck out the suit filed by Chijioke Edeoga’s of Labour Party challenging the election of Mbah.
Edeoga had alleged over-voting, bypass of BVAS rules and forgery of NYSC certificate among other alleged infrations against Governor Mbah.
The Tribunal held that Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah was duly elected as governor by majority of lawful and valid votes cast at the election.
The Tribunal also held that Dr Peter Mbah did not submit his NYSC certificate to INEC in aid of his qualification to contest for office of governor, since he was already qualified without NYSC certificate.
Tribunal also rejected Edeoga’s witnesses and ruled that the Labour Party governorship candidate did not present any admissible evidence to prove that Mbah’s certificate was forged.
On the issue of wrong computation of results of the Labour Party in Udenu local government, the panel said they petitioners failed to prove this case and the witnesses they called gave the same report for different polling units and wards and wondered why their testimonies were they same even from different locations.
The panel also said that the witnesses presented by the Labour Party weren’t duly accredited agents by INEC and makes their testimony invalid.
However, the panel based on the witnesses from the right agents in 3 polling units, deducted 51 votes from PDP and added same to Labour Party.
After resolving all the matter, the tribunal dismissed the petition for lacking in merit.
