Edo tribunal dismisses AA petition against Okpebholo’s election

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, has dismissed the petition filed by the Action Alliance (AA) seeking to nullify the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

The tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, ruled that the AA’s petition lacked merit and concerned pre-election matters outside its jurisdiction.

The AA, along with its National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, had alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) excluded its legitimate candidate from the September 21, 2024, governorship election. They claimed INEC recognized a candidate not properly nominated by the party, disregarding prior court rulings.

The petitioners further argued that INEC’s failure to publish the rightful AA candidate’s name constituted a significant non-compliance with Section 134(1)(b) of the Electoral Act. Additionally, they alleged that the election, which saw the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) Governor Okpebholo emerge victorious, was marred by corrupt practices and that he did not secure a majority of the lawful votes.

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However, the tribunal rejected these claims, upholding the preliminary objections raised by INEC and Governor Okpebholo. The respondents argued that the AA’s National Chairman lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to file the petition, as he did not participate in the governorship election. They also contended that the petition was statute-barred, as it raised pre-election issues beyond the tribunal’s purview.

In its ruling, the tribunal agreed with the respondents’ arguments, concluding that the petition was indeed centered on matters that fell outside of its jurisdiction.

It is worth noting that days before the election, the AA’s initial candidate, Mr. Tom Iseghhi-Okojie, had publicly stepped down in support of Governor Okpebholo.

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