By CHARLES IWUOHA

The All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial Candidate in the 2023 elections in Enugu State, Chief Uche Nnaji, has approached the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu over dismissal of his petition by the State’s Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.

The Tribunal had, on June 20, 2023, dismissed the petition filed by Nnaji and APC challenging the outcome of the governorship election wherein the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had announced Mr. Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), winner of the polls.

In his Petition, Nnaji said Mr Mbah was, at the time of the election, not constitutionally qualified to contest, having presented forged certificate to INEC.

He further said that Governor Mbah was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the election as the process was marred by substantial non-compliance with the electoral act, among other issues.

But the judge, in her ruling, said the petition with the suit number EPT/EN/GOV/05/23 was abandoned and cannot be entertained pursuant to paragraph 18(3) (4) of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act, 2022.

Nnaji is therefore praying the Appeal Court to send back the dismissed petition to the Tribunal for hearing and determination of the suit.

The Appeal Court sitting in Enugu will, on Tuesday, 11th July 2023, commence hearing on the matter.

Recall that the APC Governorship Candidate polled a total of 14,575 votes to come a distant fourth in the election.