From Maurice Okafor, Enugu.
The Enugu state Governor ,Barr. Peter Mbah has extended hand of fellowship to the Labour party governorship Enugu state in the March 18 state election, Barr.Chijioke and Edeoga, stating the strive i7 over and that it is time to unite and work for the interest of the state.
Governor Mbah extended the olive branch to the opposition in Enugu state as part of his reaction to the judgement of Enugu state governorship election tribunal, which affirmed him as duly elected.
The three man Enugu governorship election Petition Tribunal led by Justice Kudirat Morayo Akano, in the two separate judgement delivered yesterday dismissed the petitions of Governorship candidate of Labour Party, Barr, Chijioke Edeoga and that of the PRP candidate, Mr Chris Agu against the election of Governor Mbah for lack of merit.
Governor Mbah described the judgement as a victory for massive development of Enugu! state and called on the opposition to close ranks with him.
Mbah stated, “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 reaffirmed. If service is the motivation, then it is time to rise above partisanship and come together because there is much work to be done”
Governor Mbah stated further, “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”.
Mbah’s election was challenged by Barr Edeoga which his major grounds was centred on Mbah’s alleged forgery of National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, certificate, irregularities during the election, over-voting, among others.
Chairman of the three-man panel, Justice Kudirat Morayo Akano 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.
The panel held that NYSC certificate, according to Section 177 of the 1999 Constitution, is not a requirement for contesting the governorship election.
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 said that the witnesses presented by the Labour Party were not duly accredited agents by INEC and that their testimony was invalid.
It held that Mbah was duly elected as governor by majority of lawful and valid votes cast during the election.
But reacting to the judgment, the Enugu State chairman of Labour Party, Barr. Casmir Agbo decried the judgement of the tribunal, adding that the three man panel failed to treat the issue of forgery by Peter Mbah.
He vowed that they are going to appeal court to challenge the out come of the judgement.
“Tribunal in his wisdom today failed to present the fact and law when they said in the first place that Barr. Peter Mbah who attached forged certificate is qualified to contest the election. They said it is not the requirement to contest the election.
“Instead of the tribunal to determine whether the certificate was forged but only ruled on the subpena of NYSC head of certificate did not meet the requirement specifications of time to upload his written statement.
“We are asking the tribunal if a witness must bring his written statement before the date of court, the answer is no. They’re following the footstep of Appeal court on Peter Obi and they are in supreme Court and we are going over to appeal court”.
The PRP Governorship candidate, Mr Chris Agu, who was in court said he will also appeal against the tribunal’s judgement.
He said, the judgement is not appealing to him spiritually and physically.
end.
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