Chief Edeoga and his party, the Labour Party are challenging the declaration of Peter Mbah as the elected governor by the Independent National Electoral Commission in the March 18 governorship elections in the State.
There is heavy security in and around Enugu State High Court as the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal fixed tomorrow (Thursday) to deliver its judgement in the petition filed by the Labour Party and governorship candidate, Chijioke Edeoga, challenging the election of Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Chief Edeoga and his party, the Labour Party are challenging the declaration of Peter Mbah as the elected governor by the Independent National Electoral Commission in the March 18 governorship elections in the State.
In the petition, Edeoga is asking the court to declare him as the validly elected governor, insisting that he got the highest number of valid votes cast during the election.
SaharaReporters reported on Wednesday, August 16, that the three-man panel of the Tribunal led by Justice Akano, had after the parties adopted their final written addresses, reserved ruling on the petitions.
INEC is the first respondent in the petition, and Dr Mbah and PDP are listed as the second and third respondents respectively.
Peter Mbah had while adopting his final written address, through his counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), asked the court to dismiss the petitions of the Labour Party for lacking in merit and for being a mere academic exercise.
Similarly, counsel for the PDP, Anthony Ani (SAN), contended that the argument of the petitioners was vague and lacking in evidence.
Adopting his final address, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), the lead counsel for the Labour Party and its governorship candidate, asked the tribunal to hold the position of his clients and grant the reliefs sought by his client.
He said it had been established beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Mbah was at the time of the election not constitutionally qualified to contest for the election having presented a forged certificate of national service to INEC.
Chief Awomolo highlighted the issues of over-voting, non-use of BVAS, and alleged forgery of NYSC certificate, among others brought by the petitioners as reasons why the matter should be decided in favour of his client (Edeoga).
However, one of the lawyers representing Chief Edeoga, Mr Ifeanyi Ogenyi, confirmed to SaharaReporters that the Tribunal had communicated to them that it would deliver its judgement on Thursday, September 21, 2023.
He, however, expressed optimism that his clients would be victorious.
Meanwhile, fierce-looking security agents have been deployed around the State High Court Complex to maintain security.