Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has welcomed Fridays Appeal Court ruling upholding his election on March 18.
In a statewide address to the people, he said he would fulfill his campaign promises, to the letter.
“As you are aware, a few minutes ago, the Court of Appeal in Lagos dismissed an appeal filed against us by the Labour Party gubernatorial candidate.
“The judgment of the appellate court is consistent with an earlier dismissal of the same matter filed before the Enugu State Election Petitions Tribunal.
“Both judgments are consistent and in line with the mandate freely given to us by the great people of Enugu State in the March 18 gubernatorial election. They further reaffirmed our belief in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.
“Let me also say this as a lawyer, this judgment reaffirms my belief and trust in the irrevocable will of the judiciary. I want to use this opportunity to commend the justices of the Court of Appeal for standing firmly by the sacredness of the temple of justice.
“I want to also thank the great people of Enugu State for their endurance in the face of palpable untruth purveyed just to paint their government black.
“With this judgement, we are going to deploy more energy and commitment to bring development to the doorsteps of Ndi Enugu.
“Permit me also to state that this is not a victory for Peter Mbah as governor, it is a victory for water that will run nonstop through taps of Enugu homes in less than 20 days. It is also a victory that will make Enugu State a road construction site, and we are talking about the length and breadth of Enugu State being transformed into a road construction site.
“It is also a victory that would ensure that we have smart schools across the 260 wards of Enugu State.
“Let me assure Ndi Enugu that we are not going to let them down. We are going to deploy every breath and fibre of our being to consolidate on the gains we have made so far.
“Again, I want to express my profound gratitude to the great people of Enugu State for their tremendous support, and the unimpeachable trust reposed in us.
“We will never fail them. Indeed, the long awaited tomorrow is right here with us,” he said.
Meanwhile, in his reaction to the judgment, the Director of Communications, Edeoga Campaign Organization, Mr George Ugwu, said in his statement that Edeoga would continue the course of Justice “to the extent legally possible.”
The statement reads: “The Edeoga/Nwokeabia Campaign organisation received with shock and disappointment the judgment of the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on the petition of the Enugu State Chapter of the Labour Party and its candidate in the March 18 Governorship Election in the state, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga.
“Our lawyers present at the Court have briefed the Party and the Candidate and the way forward determined.
“They have been instructed to explore the constitutional rights of appeal to the Supreme Court, while we continue to engage the human conscience to uphold what is right and just and what will, in the end, help reignite the blinking and fading embers of our humanity as Nigerians.
“We thank the great people of Enugu State and all our supporters worldwide for their steadfastness and enduring love. We enjoin them to remain peaceful, law-abiding, prayerful and purposefully expectant of victory in the end.”
