The Enugu State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has dismissed the petition of Chris Agu of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) against Peter Mbah, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Mbah was declared the winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election in Enugu.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Thursday, the tribunal, chaired by Justice Kudirat Murayo Akano, held that the petitioner failed to prove any of the allegations against Mbah, including that he forged his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate. The judge also declared that the petitioner failed to prove that Mbah was not qualified to stand for the election and was involved in corruption.
The tribunal held that there was no evidence to support the claim that Mbah did not possess the minimum requirement to stand for the election, which is a school certificate or its equivalent.
The tribunal also held that the petitioner failed to prove that Mbah entered into a plea bargain with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on corruption charges. The tribunal said the evidence presented by Mbah showed that he was acquitted of all charges.
On the issue of forgery, the tribunal held that the petitioner must provide the original certificate and the forged one in order to prove the allegation. However, the petitioner failed to do so.
The tribunal also dismissed the petitioner’s claim that Mbah was not elected by the majority of votes cast. The tribunal held that the witnesses called by the petitioner could not specify the polling units where the elections did not hold or the results of the same.
It is only the judiciary that can save Nigeria democracy. If the judiciary can be bold enough to nolify the election of corrupt politicians who believe in rigging of election to come into power will minimise or eradicate election rigging. The judiciary should try and help to save Nigerians from dubious politicians.