The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Enugu, on Thursday dismissed NYSC certificate forgery suit brought by the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, Governorship candidate, Chris Agu against the Governor of Enugu state, Peter Mbah.
The three-man tribunal, chaired by Justice Kudirat Akano stated that there was no evidence before it to support PRP’s claim that a forged certificate was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
It held that the issue was not contained in the petitioner’s affidavit, stating that to prove forgery, both the original and the supposedly forged certificate ought to have been exhibited before the tribunal.
The tribunal added that the petitioner failed to prove that the respondent possessed the minimum requirements to stand for the election including school certificate or its equivalent.
It said therefore, there was no evidence to substantiate the claims adding that Mbah was not qualified to stand for the election.
On the issue of plea bargain by Mbah, the tribunal averred that the exhibit presented by the petitioners did not show any plea bargain by the respondent.
Akano further ruled that Mbah was duly elected by majority of votes cast at the election held on March 18.
Recall that the petitioner had alleged among others that Mbah was not qualified to contest the election and was not lawfully elected.
The court is currently delivering similar judgement of the Labour Party Governorship candidate, Mr Chijioke Edeoga against election of Gov. Mbah.
