..Petition Against Edeoga, Mbah, Dismissed
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the suit filed by Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science & Technology who doubles as the Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2023 general elections in Enugu state, Chief Uche Nnaji.
The honourable minister was challenging the declaration and return of the Enugu state governor, Peter Mba, as well as the nomination of Barr. Chijioke Edeoga of the Labour Party.
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Nnaji whose petition was initially dismissed by the Enugu governorship election Petitions Tribunal and also the Court of Appeal had approached the Supreme Court to seek redress.
Daily Gazette recall that the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Enugu had on June 20, 2023 dismissed the petition filed by Mr. Nnaji and his party, the APC, challenging the outcome of the Enugu governorship election wherein the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, announced Mr. Peter Mba of the Peoples Democratic party, PDP, winner of the polls.
In that Petition, Uche Nnaji said Mr. Peter Mba of the PDP was at the time of the election not constitutionally qualified to contest, having presented forged certificate of national service, NYSC, to INEC.
It further said that Mr. Mbah was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the election as the process was marred by substantial non compliance with the electoral act, among other issues.
But the judge in her rulling said the petition with the suit number EPT/EN/GOV/05/23 was abandoned and cannot be entertained pursuant to paragraph 18(3) (4) of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Dissatisfied with the rulling, Chief Nnaji told the Appeal Court to send back the dismissed petition to the Tribunal for hearing and determination of the suit.
But the Appeal Court in her judgment upheld the decision of the Tribunal and dismissed the suit and awarded the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand naira against the Petitioners.
Daily Gazette recall that the APC Governorship candidate pulled a total of 14,575 votes to come distant fourth in the election.
