*Says Edeoga failed to prove infractions, forgery of NYSC certificate
*Edeoga dismisses judges travesty of justice, heads for Appeal Court
The declaration of Barr. Peter Mbah as the duly-elected governor of Enugu State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been upheld by the State’s Governorship Election Tribunal.
The tribunal in dismissing the petition filed by Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), declared that Edeoga failed woefully to prove his case and therefore dismissed his petition in its entirety.
But, Edeoga through his Campaign Organisation, dismissed the judgement as a travesty of justice, saying he will appeal the judgement.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Mbah winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election, but the declaration was challenged.
Delivering the judgement on Thursday, Chairman of the three-member panel of the Tribunal, Justice Kudirat Akano, dismissed the allegation of Hon. Edeoga/LP that Governor Mbah’s NYSC Discharge Certificate was forged.
The court held that Mbah did not need to submit his NYSC certificate to INEC in aid of his qualification to contest for the office of governor, since he was already qualified without NYSC certificate.
The tribunal held that there was no evidence to support the claim that Mbah did not possess the minimum requirement to stand for the election, which is a school certificate or its equivalent.
Tribunal also rejected Edeoga’s witnesses, deciding that the LP governorship candidate did not present any admissible evidence to prove that the governor’s NYSC certificate was forged.
The tribunal also held that the petitioner failed to prove that Mbah entered into a plea bargain with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on corruption charges.
The tribunal said the evidence presented by Mbah showed that he was acquitted of all the charges preferred against him by the EFCC.
On the issue of forgery, the tribunal held that the petitioner must provide the original certificate and the forged one in order to prove the allegation, saying however, the petitioner failed to do so.
The tribunal also dismissed the petitioner’s claim that Mbah was not elected by the majority of votes cast.
The tribunal held that the witnesses called by the petitioner could not specify the polling units where the elections did not hold or the results of the same.
However in a statement by Edeoga/Nwokeabia Campaign Organisation, stated their preparedness to challenge the outcome of the judgement at the Court of Appeal and to all extents as permitted by law.
“To this end, we urge our supporters across the state and in other parts of the country to remain calm, law-abiding, and to go about their businesses without fear or hindrance.
“We retain a firm belief in the justice, and will go the full extent legally possible in ensuring that the hopes of Enugu people who turned out in their numbers to vote for Labour Party candidates on March 18, 2023 are realised,” in a statement signed by Engr. George Ugwu, Spokesperson for the Edeoga/Nwokeabia Campaign Organisation.
