The Court of Appeal in Lagos has deferred its decision in the appeal brought by the Labour Party governorship candidate in Enugu State, Barr. Chijioke Edeoga, seeking to overturn Governor Peter Mba’s victory.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has pronounced Mbah the winner of the election.
But, dissatisfied with the election results, the LP candidate filed a case with the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, saying that Mbah fabricated his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC, certificate.
Ruling on the matter, the tribunal, on September 21, struck out Edeoga’s petition and affirmed Mbah’s election.
However, Udeoga, who was not satisfied with the verdict of the tribunal, dragged the matter to the Appeal Court.
The three-member panel of justices adjourned the matter for judgement on Monday after taking arguments from counsel to the parties.
Counsel to the petitioners had told the appellate court to set aside the judgement of the tribunal.
The counsel claimed that the Justice Kudirat Akano-led tribunal erred in law by dismissing a proven case of certificate forgery, stamping the repulsive act of illegality with a judicial imprimatur.
According to the petitioners, aside from the proven case of certificate forgery against Mbah, there were proven cases of over-voting in Nkanu East local government area of Enugu State, computational errors in Udenu Council area, and results swap, among other irregularities.
