Governor Monday Okpebholo and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have won round one in the series of the petition challenging their declaration as winners of the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo state.
A petition instituted against them by the Action Alliance (AA) and one Adekunle Rufai Omoaje was thrown out by the Edo State Governorship Election Peition Tribunal for lacking in merit and being frivolous.
In the first judgment of the Tribunal on Wednesday, it was held that Adekunle Rufai Omoaje who filed the joint petition has no locus standi to Institute the case.
Among others, the Tribunal held that Omoaje did not participate in the governorship election and as such has no power to question the validity of the election.
The Tribunal also held that Omoaje’s grouse against the election was that he was not recognized as the National Chairman of the Action Alliance for the purpose of nominating candidate for the poll but it was held that his claims have no basis in the Electoral Act 2022.
Omoaje had in the petition asked the Tribunal to declare the declaration of Okpebholo and APC as winners of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC as illegal, unlawful, unconditional and null and void on non compliance with the Electoral Act.
He also alleged corruption and that Okpebholo and APC did not win majority of lawful votes in the election.
Omoaje also alleged that AA was not allowed to nominate a lawful governorship candidate for the election having not signed nomination form as the National Chairman of the party.
INEC had declared that Okpebholo of the APC won 291, 667 votes to defeat his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, who polled 247, 655 votes in the election
Also yesterday Edo State Gov’ship tribunal dismisses petition filed by Accord Party
Governorship Dr Bright Enabulele.
Dr. Enabulele had in the election petition challenged the election of Gov. Monday Okpebholo of All Progressives Congress,APC,.on alleged grounds that the September 21, 2024.goveenorship in the state was marred by irregularities.
In its judgment, the Tribunal held that the Accord party and its governorship candidate Dr Bright Enabulele made spurious wild allegations of thuggery stuffing ballots, harassing and molesting voters but failed to name a single perpetrator.
The tribunal also found that the two petitioners were inconsistent in their claims bordering on allegations of non compliance with the Electoral Act and at same time praying tribunal to declare Enabulele the winner.
It would be absurd, the tribunal stated for it to declare Accord Party winners of the election they claimed have been conducted without compliance with the Electoral Act.
In the final analysis, the tribunal held that there was no meaningful evidence for it to act upon to nullify the election of Okpebholo and APC and subsequently dismissed the petition in its entirety.
The tribunal also affirmed the election of Okpebholo for being valid, conducted in compliance with the law and properly declared as winners by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.
With the latest judgment, Governor Monday Okpebholo and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have won the second in the series of the petitions challenging APC victory at September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo state.
Recall that INEC had declared Okpebholo of the APC who won 291, 667 votes winner of the election and his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, who polled 247, 655 votes in the election as second runner up.