The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Enugu State has affirmed the victory of Peter Mbah of the People’s Democratic Party in the just concluded Enugu State guber elections.
Barr Chijioke Edeoga of the Labour Party, LP sought redress in court, challenging the victory of Peter Mbah.
Major grounds of Edeoga’s petition centred on Mbah’s alleged forgery of National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, certificate, irregularities during the election, over-voting, among others.
Justice Kudirat Morayo Akano who sat as Chairman of the panel dismissed the petition in favour of the respondent, Mbah.
It struck out Edeoga’s application seeking to disqualify Mbah over alleged forgery of NYSC certificate.
In their verdict, the panel emphasized that NYSC certificate, according Section 177 of the 1999 Constitution, did not stand as a prerequisite to contest elections in Nigeria.
It ruled that Mbah did not submit his NYSC certificate to INEC in aid of his qualification to contest for office of the governor, since he was already qualified without the NYSC certificate.
The Tribunal equally dismissed allegations of over-voting and bypassing of BVAS.
The panel also held that the witness tendered by LP were fully accredited agents by INEC and as such, testimonies were invalid.
It held that Mbah was duly elected as governor by majority of lawful and valid votes cast during the election.
The Petition of the candidate of the People’s Democratic President was also dismissed.
