The Enugu Gubernatorial Election Tribunal concluded today, marking the end of a closely-watched legal battle over the state’s gubernatorial election results. The Labour Party candidate, Chijioke Edeoga, challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for declaring Peter Mba the winner of the election.
The tribunal also witnessed additional allegations, including the authenticity of Peter Mba’s NYSC discharge certificate and discrepancies in the controversial results from Nkanu East Local Government Area.
Chijioke Edeoga’s primary contention was against INEC’s declaration of Peter Mba as the winner of the Enugu gubernatorial election. Edeoga vehemently contested the results, claiming irregularities and inconsistencies that could have affected the outcome.
The validity of Peter Mba’s NYSC discharge certificate was another major point of contention. Chijioke Edeoga’s legal team accused Mba of presenting a forged certificate, raising questions about his eligibility to run for office and the validity of his candidacy.
Furthermore, the controversial results from Nkanu East Local Government Area became the subject of scrutiny. Edeoga contested the use of the constitutionally and legally certified accreditation instrument, the Bi-modal Voters Accreditation System (BIVAS), during the election process in the area. Allegations were made that BIVAS was not used as it should have been, leading to doubts about the credibility of the election results in that region.
During the tribunal proceedings, INEC faced criticism for failing to present a witness, raising questions about their defense of the election results. On the other hand, the PDP candidate, Peter Mba, could only produce one witness, which was seen as a disappointing effort to support his claim as the legitimate winner.
In contrast, Chijioke Edeoga’s legal team demonstrated a strong commitment to their case, calling in a total of eight witnesses to present their evidence. The Labour Party’s dedication was also evident, as they summoned a significant number of 22 witnesses to back up their claims.
As the Enugu Gubernatorial Election Tribunal has concluded, the fate of Enugu’s governance now rests in the hands of the judiciary. The court’s decision will determine whether the election results will be upheld or if a new course of action, such as a rerun or other measures, will be taken to address the alleged irregularities.
The people of Enugu are eagerly awaiting the verdict, hoping that the judicial system will ensure justice and fairness under the state’s leadership. The outcome of the tribunal could have far-reaching implications not only for the political landscape of Enugu but also for the credibility and integrity of the electoral process in the entire country.