- Safiu Kehinde
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has recorded a win at the state’s governorship election tribunal in Abuja following the dismissal of the petition filed by the Action Alliance (AA) seeking to nullify his victory at the 2023 governorship poll.
A three-member panel led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi in Abuja on Wednesday ruled that the petition, filed alongside AA’s National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, lacked merit.
The tribunal stated that the case revolved around pre-election matters, which were beyond its jurisdiction.
According to report, AA had argued that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) unlawfully excluded their legitimate candidate from the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
They claimed that INEC had accepted and recognized a candidate who had not been validly nominated by the AA, contrary to various court judgments.
The petitioners also contended that INEC’s failure to publish the name of the rightful candidate for the gubernatorial election violated the provisions of section 134(1)(b) of the Electoral Act, which they argued was a substantial non-compliance with the electoral process.
AA further alleged that Okpebholo, did not secure the majority of lawful votes cast in the election, claiming that the election was tainted by corrupt practices.
As a result, they sought the nullification of the election, a request that was ultimately rejected by the tribunal.
More details later…