Awave of apprehension has gripped the Enugu metropolis as the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Enugu is set to deliver its judgment on the 2023 governorship election in the state.

The three-member tribunal led by Justice Kudirat Morayo Akano earlier reserved its judgement and according to judiciary sources, had on Tuesday, September 19, announced its judgement date for Thursday, September 21, by 9.00 am.

The announcement has since activated panic mode among the supporters of the two major political parties: the ruling party Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), The Nation has learned.

The matter between Chijioke Edeoga of LP and Governor Peter Mbah of PDP has been the most interesting in the history of post-election legal disputes in Enugu State.

Among the contentious issues that have gripped the attention of both legal pundits and the general public in the state is the authenticity of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate presented by Peter Mbah, who was declared the winner of the election by INEC.

The opposition Labour Party had alleged that Mbah failed to fulfil his mandatory youth service obligations before assuming a political post in 2003.

The broader issues surrounding Mbah’s election victory also encompass fierce debates regarding the validity of the votes accrued during the electoral process.

Furthermore, allegations of extensive electoral malpractice and rigging have cast a shadow over the outcome, particularly in Owo and Ugbawka wards in Nkanu East LGA as well as the Enugu East and Udenu LGAs, where the LP candidate is alleging computation errors that reduced his votes.

In the meantime, normal vehicular traffic is still going on around the Independence Layout of the State High Court complex where the judgement will be delivered.

A security source informed our correspondent that security arrangements will be beefed up Thursday morning to check any breakdown of law and order.

THE NATION