By CHARLES IWUOHA, Enugu

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Enugu State has dismissed the certificate forgery allegation against Governor Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

It ruled this Thursday morning, September 21, 2023, that the claims by the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) candidate, Elder Christopher Agu, lacked merit.

Agu had alleged that Mbah forged his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Certificate. He also alleged irregularities in the election, as well as over voting.

But the Justice Kudirat Morayo Akano-led Tribunal, in a judgement held that the petitioner could not prove allegations of fraud against the respondent.

The Tribunal held that there was no evidence before it to support PRP’s claim that a forged certificate was submitted to INEC, adding that the issue was not contained in the petitioner’s affidavit.

In particular, it stated that to prove forgery, both the original and the supposedly forged certificates ought to have been exhibited.

On the issue of plea bargain by Mbah, the Tribunal averred that the exhibits presented by the petitioners didn’t show any plea bargain by the respondent. The court said the evidence presented by Mbah was to the effect that he was acquitted of the charges.

The panel also averred that witnesses called by the petitioners couldn’t specify the polling units where the elections didn’t hold nor the results of same.

It concluded that the governorship election of March 18 and the return of Governor Peter Mbah as winner complied with the provisions of Electoral Act, 2022.

•Governor Mbah