•Governor Monday Okpebholo
The Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja has refused the petition by the Accord Party (AP) seeking a fresh governorship election in the state for failing to conform with the Electoral Act.
A three-member panel of justices presided by Justice Wilfred Kpochi dismissed the petition for failing to discharge the burden of proof on them by law, reports Daily Trust.
The panel held that their contention that the election breached the electoral law lacked any evidence to support the allegations of thuggery, ballot paper stuffing and harassment of voters.
The AP and its governorship candidate, Dr Bright Enabulele had brought the petition challenging the victory of Governor Monday Okpebholo and the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State.
They also alleged corruption and that Okpebholo and APC did not win majority of lawful votes in the election despite having 291, 667 votes to defeat his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 247, 655 votes in the election.
Similarly, the tribunal also dismissed the petition by the Action Alliance (AA) against Governor Okpebholo and the APC.
Justice Kpochi dismissed the petition for lack of locus standi, and for lacking merit and being frivolous.
The AA and one Adekunle Rufai Omoaje brought the petition challenging the APC and Okpebholo as winners of the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State.
They contended that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s declaration of Okpebholo and APC 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 despite having 291, 667 votes to defeat his closest rival, Ighodalo of the PDP, who polled 247, 655 votes in the election.
In its finding, 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 AcA for the purpose of nominating candidate for the poll but it was held that his claims have no basis in the Electoral Act 2022.
