Election Court affirms Mbah’s declaration as governor

Edeoga vows to appeal

Enugu Governorship election court today 21 September affirms the 20 March declaration of Peter Ndubuisi Mbah as Enugu State Governor.

The 3-man panel of justices said in an unanimous judgement that they are satisfied that Mbah won the 18 March election which is disputed by opposition Labour Party.

Chief Chijioke Edeoga, the Labour Party candidate, however said he was not satisfied by the ruling and will appeal. The case will to the Supreme Court if the parties are not satisfied with the appeal that Edeoga vowed to file.

The 3-person election court led by Justice Kudirat Akano dismissed the two major grounds of appeal brought by Labour to torpedo Mba’s victory.

Labour argued that the elections were marred by irregularities and that Mbah submitted a fabricated certificate of national service from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

The judges held that LP failed to prove that the certificate is a forgery. In addition, they also noted that NYSC certificate of service is not a mandatory requirement for elections and so does not provide sufficient ground to invalidate Mbah’s election.

The judges also ruled that the petitioners did not provide sufficient evidence to prove that there were voting irregularities that benefitted the Governor..

Edeoga vows to appeal

Labour Party says it is dissatisfied with the judges ruling and will appeal. Campaign spokesperson, Engr George Ugwu issued a four-paragraph statement this evening:

“On Thursday, September 21, 2023, the Enugu State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal delivered its judgement on the petition brought by the Labour Party and its candidate, Barr Chijioke Jonathan Edeoga, following the outcome of the March 18, 2023 Governorship elections in the state, which was announced in favour of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barr. Peter Mbah.

“We wish to convey the acknowledgment by the Labour Party and its candidate, Chijioke Edeoga, of the judgement as delivered at the tribunal, and to state our preparedness to challenge the outcome of this 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.”

Mbah commends ruling, thanks Ndi Enugu

An elated Governor praised the judgment and asked his opponents to accept it and cooperate with him to make the state better..

“This is another memorable day in the anal 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 victory for Ndi Enugu. It is also 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 victory for our determination to restore water in all your homes in the next 68 days”.

While thanking God for making the victory possible,  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, the governor said “This 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 on 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”.

“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 also above, 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.