Enugu State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has struck out the petition of the Labour Party candidate, Chidioke Edeoga challenging the election of Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the March 18th election.
The three member tribunal headed by Justice Kudirat Morayo struck out Edeoga’s allegations of over-voting, and bypass of BVAS.
It further held that the witnesses presented by the Labour Party candidate were not accredited by INEC and therefore did not comply with the requirements of the electoral guidelines.
On the allegation that Mbah presented a forged NYSC discharge certificate, the tribunal ruled that the PDP candidate complied with the qualifications provided in the constitution for a person to contest for governorship election.
Morayo insisted that the NYSC discharge certificate was not part of the qualifications provided by the constitution for running elections.
The court therefore ruled that Mbah was duly elected as governor by majority of lawful and valid votes cast at the election.
The court also ruled that the petitioner could not prove his allegations of forgery and that Mbah did not win majority of the votes cast in the election.
Responding, counsel to the Labour Party, Dr Valerie Azinge said they will appeal the judgement.
In his reaction, Governor Mbah lauded the decision of the tribunal, which dismissed the petitions of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and the LP candidates challenging his victory in the March 18, 2023 governorship election.
He described the judgement as victory for democracy and the people of Enugu State.
Mbah, who also extended hands of fellowship to the opposition candidates and their political parties, said the task to build Enugu remained a collective one, adding that he was committed to working with all, irrespective of political persuasions.
Addressing the state, at the Government House, Enugu, Mbah said: “This is another memorable day in the annal of our dear state, as the Enugu State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal affirmed the mandate, which you freely gave to us on 18th of March this year.
“This is a victory for Ndi Enugu. It is also a victory for democracy.
“It is a victory for massive development for Ndi Enugu. It is a victory for exponential growth for Ndi Enugu. It is a victory for Enugu’s greatness. It is a victory for the ban on Monday sit-at-home. It is also a victory for our determination to restore water in all your homes in the next 68 days”.
While thanking God for making the victory possible, Dr. Mbah also commended the tribunal for painstakingly dissecting the petitions and “for coming out with fair and just decision that resonates with Ndi Enugu”.
According to him, “the verdict has further strengthened our confidence in the judiciary as the temple of justice and the last hope of the common man”.
Extending hands of fellowship to his opponents, Mbah said: “There is time for everything under the sun. There is time to strive and time to unite. We all put ourselves forward to serve Ndi Enugu. The people have spoken and the tribunal has also affirmed. If service was the motivation, then it is time to rise above partisanship and come together because there is so much work to be done.
“Our arms are wide open and I beckon to my brothers, who ran this race with us, to join us in the onerous task of building a new Enugu State of our dreams.
“In the same vein, I enjoin all our supporters to be magnanimous in victory. Politics is over. Governance began on 29th May when we were inaugurated. It is time to unite”.
Governor Mbah, who reiterated his resolve to deliver on his campaign promises, further stressed that the tribunal’s decision was an elixir to do more, and urged the people to hold him to account on those promises.
“Once more, I immensely thank the good people of Enugu State, who not only believed in us, but also vested their mandate in us. Above all, they have stood by us every step of the way.
“I want to assure them that I will work for them with every fibre of my being. I stand by every campaign promise I made as espoused in our Statement of Purpose. I also stand by the Citizens Charter that I executed on my first day in office. The Enugu people should hold me to account. I will not let them down,” he concluded.
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