JUST IN: Supreme Court Validates Peter Mbah’s Victory as Enugu Governor

The Supreme Court upheld Peter Mbah’s election as the Governor of Enugu State, dismissing appeals by the Labour Party (LP) and its candidate, Jonathan Edeoga. The court, led by Justice John Okoro, unanimously ruled that Edeoga failed to substantiate claims of electoral fraud against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Governor Mbah.

Governor Mbah, representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), secured victory in the March 18 election with 160,895 votes. Edeoga of the LP, who came second with 157,552 votes, contested the results, prompting a legal battle.

The lead judgement by Justice Mohammed Garba emphasized the lack of evidence supporting Edeoga’s allegations, affirming the decisions of both the Court of Appeal and the election petition tribunal.

Earlier, a panel at the Court of Appeal in Lagos had dismissed issues raised by Edeoga, stating insufficient evidence to disqualify Mbah. The appeal failed as voters’ registers were not presented to substantiate over-voting claims.

Edeoga’s petition also raised concerns about the alleged forgery of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate by Mbah. However, the Enugu State governorship election petition tribunal ruled in favor of Mbah, asserting that he met the minimum requirements for the election.

This Supreme Court decision solidifies Peter Mbah’s position as the legitimate governor of Enugu State, marking the conclusion of a legal battle that centered on electoral integrity and qualification standards.