From Sylvia Udegbunam Enugu

The Enugu State Gubernatorial Election Tribunal has declared Governor Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as duly elected in the March 18, governorship election in Enugu State.

The tribunal chaired by Justice Kudirat Murayo Akano also dismissed Edeoga/Labour Party’s petitions of over-voting, bypass of BVAS in the election.

The court ruled that Mbah was duly elected as governor by majority of lawful and valid votes cast at the election.

The Tribunal had earlier dismissed the allegation of Edeoga/LP that Governor Peter Mbah’s National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) discharge certificate was forged.

It held that Mbah did not submit his NYSC certificate to INEC in aid of his qualification to contest for office of governor, since he was already qualified without NYSC certificate.

The Tribunal further rejected Edeoga’s witnesses, and ruled that the LP governorship candidate did not present any admissible evidence to prove that Mbah’s certificate was forged.

The tribunal also held that to prove the issue of forgery, the petitioner must provide the original certificate and the forged one.

The panel also resolved the issue that Mbah was not elected by majority of votes cast against the petitioner.

It averred that witnesses called by the petitioners could not specify the polling units where the elections did not hold nor the results of same.

The panel further held that the petitioner failed to prove that the Mbah did not possess the minimum requirement to stand for election, which is school certificate or its equivalent.

It, therefore, said there was no evidence to support the claim that Mbah was not qualified to stand for the election.

On the issue of plea bargain by Mbah, the tribunal averred that the exhibits presented by the petitioners did not show any plea bargain by the respondent.

The court said there was an evidence presented by Mbah to the effect that he was acquitted of the charges.