Chetanne Chinelo, Enugu 

As celebrations continue to trail the declaration of Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State as the duly elected by total valid votes casted and winner of the March 18 governorship election by the Enugu Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, the Executive Chairman of Nkanu West Local Government, Hon. Uchenna Calistus Ejim, has led the people of Nkanu West in lauding the decision of the court.

At a civic reception held yesterday, Thursday, at the council secretariat, Agbani, immediately after the tribunal judgement, Ejim, alongside the Deputy Chairman of the local government, Hon. Chijioke Oscar Ngene,Secretary to Nkanu West LGC, Hon Sunday M. Edeh, PDP Chairman, Nkanu West Chapter, Hon Michael U. Nnamoko, party officials across the fourteen electoral wards of Nkanu West, party faithfuls and other indigenes hailed the judgement as an accurate validator of Mbah's victory.

In his words: "I thank God for giving the governor victory in court today. Sometimes, people with the truth go to court and due to some reasons or even technicalities, they do not get justice. 

"I thank the Judges who were bold enough to declare the truth in their judgement". 

Thanking all Indigenes of the local government who gathered for the reception in such short notice, Ejim prayed for God's blessings on them. 

He noted that Governor Mbah, in his press conference shortly after the verdict by the tribunal, had extended a hand of fellowship to those who contested the governorship position with him during the election.

The Council boss informed the people gathered that Gov. Peter Mbah reiterated his avowed commitment to the citizen charter which he signed in his first day in office as a Governor. 

"The promise of water running in your various homes in the city in the next 68 days remains alive"

"I want to let us know that the governor's message signifies that we're completely done with elections and politics. 

"It is now time to face governance squarely. Our governor has extended a hand of peace to the governorship candidates of all other political parties to join him in moving our state forward and making Enugu virile".

Ejim further thanked the people for standing behind the PDP in the March 18 governorship election, reiterating that they wouldn't regret their decision.

Recall that the tribunal, Thursday, September 21, 2023, consisting of a three-member panel of judges led by Justice Kudirat Akano had upheld INEC’s declaration and return of Mr. Peter Mbah as the duly elected Governor of Enugu state in the March 18, 2023 election.

Mr Mbah polled 160,895 votes to defeat his closest challenger and the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Chijioke Edeoga, who scored 157,552 votes.

The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Frank Nweke Jr, garnered 17,983 votes to come third, while the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Uche Nnaji, came fourth, with 14,575 votes.

Mr Edeoga had filed a petition at the tribunal challenging the victory of Mr Mbah, now governor.