The Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Enugu State has dismissed the Peoples Redemption Party, (PRP) allegation that Governor Peter Mbah presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Justice Kudirat Morayo Akano-led panel ruled that the claims by PRP’s candidate, Elder Christopher Agu against Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) lacked merit.
Agu had alleged that Mbah forged his National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, certificate. He also alleged irregularities in the election, as well as over voting.
But in a judgement on Thursday, Sept. 21, the tribunal held that the petitioner could not prove allegations of fraud against the respondent.
According to the court, there was no evidence before it to support PRP’s claim that a forged certificate was submitted to INEC, adding that the issue was not contained in the petitioner’s affidavit.
In particular, it stated that to prove forgery, both the original and the supposedly forged certificate ought to have been exhibited.
On the issue of plea bargain by Mbah, the Tribunal averred that the exhibits presented by the petitioners didn’t show any plea bargain by the respondent. The court said the evidence presented by Mbah was to the effect that he was acquitted of the charges.
The panel also averred that witnesses called by the petitioners couldn’t specify the polling units where the elections didn’t hold nor the results of same.
It concluded that the governorship election of March 18 and the return of Governor Peter Mbah as winner complied with the provisions of Electoral Act, 2022.
