By Godfrey Agboeze

Ahead of the Thursday, September 21, 2023, tribunal judgment on the governorship case between Labour Party governorship candidate, Barr. Chijioke Edeoga and Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, in which Mbah's victory was upheld, expectation was very high and optimism was at its peak among Ndi Enugu, who didn't expect anything less, considering that they voted enmasse for Mbah in the election.

Unlike Barr. Edeoga and his social media hirelings, who deployed all kind of crude social media campaign of calumny and mudslinging in a futile attempt to foist Barr.Edeoga on Enugu people before the election, Governor Mbah stole the heart of Ndi Enugu and endeared himself to them with his unprecedented, well articulated, ambitious and achievable manifesto, immeasurable experience, lofty achievements and proven trackrecord. 

In Mbah, Ndi Enugu saw a man with a Midas touch who is capable, passionate, and prepared to make a remarkable difference in the governance and rapid development of Enugu State. They saw in Mbah a man who is not a traditional, nominal, or professional politician but a great disruptive innovator, wealth creator, and entrepreneur per excellence.

That is why after the propaganda laced and phyrric victory of the Labour Party candidates in the National Assembly election in the state, which was obviously triggered and accomplished by the wave of Mr Peter Obi's presidential ambition that enjoyed the support of the Christendom, especially the Catholics in the Southeast region, Ndi Enugu quickly realized that Barr. Edeoga, who hoped and planned to ride on Obi's popularity and acceptability, is not an option and a match to Mbah in any way. 

That was how Mbah's popularity and personality gained more traction, prominence, and presence among Ndi Enugu before the election. Unlike Barr. Edeoga, who campaigned mostly in Nsukka and social media platforms, Mbah and his Deputy, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai took their people-oriented and massive campaigns and manifesto to the three senatorial zones, 17 council areas, 68 development centers, 450 autonomous communities, and 260 wards, streets, markets and homes in Enugu. 

These and many other factors contributed immensely to Mbah's hard-earned victory in the election. The tribunal judgment that upheld his election met the expectations of the majority of Ndi Enugu, who believed in him, voted massively for him and are looking unto him for a better Enugu which he promised them during campaigns. The tribunal judges have demonstrated that they can not be swayed, blackmailed or mislead by social media mudslingings, rantings, and image smearing, which Barr. Edeoga banked on to gain victory instead of proving his case beyond reasonable doubt at the tribunal as required by the constitution.

Let no one be surprised or flabbergasted with Labour Party and Barr. Edeoga's unfounded allegation and false claim on social media that the judges were bought and compromised before the judgment. The truth is that Barr.Edeoga has no genuine or evidential case against Governor Mbah’s election. This has been affirmed by the tribunal judges in their judgment. Cheap social media blackmail is Barr.Edeoga and his social media montebanks' stock in trade. They have deployed it repeatedly without any desired result or headway and to the extent that it is now known, outdated, and a cliche.