In a decisive ruling today, the Court of Appeal in Lagos has upheld the victory of Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah in the March 18 governorship election. The court dismissed the appeal filed by the Labour Party governorship candidate, Chijioke Edeoga, deeming it lacking in merit and affirming the Enugu Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal’s judgment delivered in September.
Led by Justice Tijani Yusuf Hassan, the three-member panel asserted that the appellant failed to substantiate claims that Governor Mbah had forged his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, emphasizing that there was insufficient evidence to disqualify him from the election.
This decision follows closely on the heels of a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja on Monday, which ordered the NYSC to pay N5 million in damages for erroneously asserting that Governor Mbah’s discharge certificate was fake.
Judge Nyang Ekwo, presiding over the case, held the NYSC and its Director General accountable for misrepresentation of material facts.
Governor Peter Mbah can now confidently continue his tenure, having successfully navigated legal challenges to his eligibility.
