The judiciary is undoubtedly in the eye of the storm and must do everything within it’s powers to redeem it’s age long batted image by upholding justice without pandering to pressure from politicians.
The Enugu state governorship election Petitions Tribunal will on Thursday, 21 September, 2023 deliver judgment on the petition filed by the Labour Party governorship candidate in the 2023 election, Barr. Chijioke Edeoga challenging the declaration and return of Mr. Peter Mba of the PDP.
Parties in the case had on August 16, adopted their final written addresses.
Daily Gazette correspondent gathered that there are mixed feelings across the state as Enugu electorates await the verdict of the three man tribunal headed by Honourable Justice Akano.
While the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC is the first respondent, Peter Mba and PDP were listed as second and third respondents respectively.
The electoral umpire had declared Mr. Mba winner of the keenly contested March 18 governorship election in the state.
Barr. Chijioke Edeoga and Peter Mba
But announcing the results four days after, the state’s returning officer, Prof. Iwe said he was under authority to declare the results.
Daily Gazette recall that the Enugu governorship results was taken to Abuja where over 30 thousand votes purportedly gotten by the PDP from Nkanu East LGA was slashed to about 15 thousand votes without any reason from the Abuja headquarters of INEC.
Dissatisfied with the outcome of the election which was largely described as electoral heist perpetuated by INEC in connivance with PDP, Barr. Chijioke Edeoga and Labour Party approached the Election Petitions tribunal seeking redress.
Edeoga said Mba was at the time of the election not constitutionally qualified to contest having presented a forged certificate of national service, NYSC, to INEC.
Other issues in the petition include allegation of over voting especially in Nkanu East LGA, substantial non compliance with the electoral act, non use of BVAS in some polling units of Owo ward, Ugbawka ward 1 and 2, computational errors, among others.
INEC had declared that Peter Mba of the PDP secured a total of 160,895 votes to defeat his closest rival, Barr. Chijioke Edeoga of the Labour Party who pulled a total of 157,552 votes.
Enugu guber tribunal courtroom
As Ndi Enugu await tribunal judgment with high hope, the onus is on the Honourable Justices to dispense justice without fear of sanction or favor.
The people are waiting !
