The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja has declared Monday Okpebolo the winner in the petition filed by the Action Alliance and Adekunle Omoaje.
ENigeria News reports that following the controversy arising in the September 21, 2024 election in Edo State, where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Monday Okpebolo of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) the winner with 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, who polled 247,655 votes, aggrieved parties had petitioned the Edo State Governorship Election tribunal, and after three months of examining the petition brought by the candidate of the Action Alliance, Adekunle Omoaje, the tribunal declared the APC candidate the winner.
ENigeria News reports that the AA and its candidate had challenged Okpebholo’s victory in the September 21, 2024, governorship election, alleging corrupt practices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
They argued that the APC candidate did not secure the majority of lawful votes and that INEC’s declaration of Monday Okpebholo as governor was illegal and unconstitutional.
The petitioners also claimed that AA was denied the opportunity to field a governorship candidate, as the nomination form had not been signed by the party’s National Chairman.
In its judgment, the Edo State Governorship Election tribunal ruled that Omoaje lacked the legal standing to challenge the election since he did not participate in the poll.
It also held that his claims, which stemmed from his non-recognition as AA’s National Chairman by INEC, had no basis under the Electoral Act 2022.
Consequently, the tribunal dismissed the petition in its entirety.
At the time of filing this report, the Tribunal was on recess and upon return would be ruling on the petition of Asue Ighodalo, candidate of the PDP, against INEC and APC.
Stay tuned.
