The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Enugu, on Thursday, dismissed the NYSC certificate forgery suit brought by the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) Governorship candidate, Chris Agu against Gov. Peter Mbah.
The three-man tribunal, chaired by Justice Kudirat Akano, said there was no evidence before it to support PRP’s claim that a forged certificate was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
They said 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 held that the petitioner failed to prove that the respondent possessed the minimum requirements to stand for the election including a 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 the plea bargain by Mbah, the tribunal averred that the exhibit presented by the petitioners did not show any plea bargain by the respondent.
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Akano further ruled that Mbah was duly elected by a majority of votes cast at the election held on March 18.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the petitioner had alleged among others that Mbah was not qualified to contest the election and was not lawfully elected.
NAN however, reports that the court is currently delivering a similar judgement of the Labour Party Governorship candidate, Mr Chijioke Edeoga against the election of Gov. Mbah. ( NAN)
