Supreme Court Upholds Victory of Peter Mbah in Enugu State Governorship Election Appeal.
Abuja, Nigeria – In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has rendered its verdict, dismissing the appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate in the 2023 Enugu State governorship election, Uche Nnaji. This decision challenges the return of Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the closely contested election.
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The ruling, delivered by a five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Tijani Abubakar, marks the conclusion of a legal battle that has captivated the nation’s political landscape.
Ejes Gist Newspaper reports that the Supreme Court’s judgment hinged on a crucial point: the validity of the legal arguments put forth by the APC and Uche Nnaji’s legal team. The court found that the appellants had filed an invalid brief of argument and failed to provide convincing reasons as to why their incompetent brief should be admitted.
Justice Tijani Abubakar, while delivering the court’s verdict, highlighted the pivotal role that the brief of argument plays in the appeal process. He emphasized that since the appellants’ brief was deemed invalid, this invalidity also extended to the appeal itself, rendering it untenable.
The ramifications of this Supreme Court decision are profound. It reaffirms the victory of Peter Mbah of the PDP in the 2023 Enugu State governorship election, solidifying his position as the legitimate winner of the contest. This legal outcome brings closure to a protracted electoral dispute that has garnered considerable attention and debate.
The Enugu State governorship election had been a closely watched race, with political tensions running high. The Supreme Court’s final ruling represents a pivotal moment in Nigerian politics, as it underscores the importance of adhering to legal procedures and the significance of valid legal arguments in the pursuit of electoral justice.
As this chapter in Enugu State’s political history draws to a close, it remains to be seen how the various political stakeholders and the people of the state will respond to the Supreme Court’s decision.
Nevertheless, the judiciary’s role in upholding the rule of law and ensuring the integrity of the electoral process remains paramount in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
