By Amos Okpala
The Chairman of the Election Tribunal sitting in Enugu, Justice K.M Akano, has adjourned the governorship election matter to June 7 for continuation of pre hearing.
In the suit filed by Mr Chijioke Edoga of the Labour Party (LP) against Peter Mbah of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the petitioner is praying the court to disqualify Mbah on the ground of his alleged NYSC forged certificate matter.
Resuming sitting on Friday, Counsel to the petitioner, Mr Alex Ejesieme, said the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court had no jurisdiction to deal with the matter, rather, the tribunal is the one that has the power to deal with it.
“The electoral Act has given the tribunal the power to look into the matter of the NYSC forged certificate issue.
“The issue which is being agitated in this matter is so germane, so, I urge the court to dismiss the 3rd respondent’s submission,” he said.
Earlier, the 3rd respondent, Mr Alex Izinyon, said the issue on NYSC forged certificate had earlier been settled by the Supreme court on Adeleke, Oyetola and INEC in Osun.
Izinyon urged the court to dismiss the petitioner’s submission, adding that the Supreme court judgment on Osun supported their petition.
He urged the court to strike out the petitioner’s prayer as it did not flow with the their reply.
The 2nd respondent, Mrs A. Ofia, had earlier urged the court to strike out the petitioner’s reply in its entirety or certain paragraphs therein.
