The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Enugu State is set to announce its judgment on Thursday regarding the petition filed by Chijioke Edeoga, the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), challenging the victory of Peter Mbah from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18, 2023 governorship election.
Chijioke Edeoga had contested the election result, alleging that Peter Mbah was not qualified to stand for the election and did not receive the highest number of valid votes. Edeoga claimed that he, as the LP candidate, should be declared the winner.
The three-member tribunal panel, presided over by Justice Kudirat Murayo, will deliver its judgment on this highly contested election.
Edeoga’s argument was based on his assertion that Mbah was not qualified to be a gubernatorial candidate and did not receive the most valid votes. He insisted that he should be declared the rightful winner of the election.
In response, Peter Mbah argued that Edeoga was not validly nominated as the LP’s gubernatorial candidate and therefore lacked the legal standing to challenge his victory. Mbah further revealed that Edeoga had participated in the PDP’s gubernatorial primary on May 25, 2022, and even received nine votes in that primary election, making him ineligible to be presented as the LP candidate under the Electoral Act 2022.
Both parties had submitted their final written addresses on August 16, after which the tribunal reserved its ruling on the petitions.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the first respondent in the petition, with Dr. Mbah and the PDP listed as the second and third respondents, respectively.
Peter Mbah’s legal counsel, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, called on the court to dismiss the LP’s petitions, deeming them meritless and an academic exercise.
Similarly, Anthony Ani, SAN, representing the Peoples Democratic Party, argued that the petitioners’ claims lacked clarity and supporting evidence.
On the other hand, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, who served as the lead counsel for the LP and its gubernatorial candidate, urged the tribunal to uphold their position and grant the reliefs sought. Awomolo contended that there was clear evidence that Mbah was not constitutionally qualified to contest the election due to the presentation of a forged National Youth Service Corps certificate to INEC. He also highlighted issues such as over-voting and the alleged forgery of documents, urging the tribunal to rule in favor of his client, Chijioke Edeoga.