Tribunal Edo rejected the petition for the election of Okpebholo

The Petition Court of the Election of the Governor of the State Edo, who sat in Abuja, has rejected the petition proposed by the Action Alliance (AA) who is trying to cancel the Election of the Governor of Monday Okpebholo.

The court, led by judge Wilfred KPochi, decided that the AA petition did not have services and concerns pre-election issues outside of his jurisdiction.

AA, along with its national chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, has accused that the Independent National Election Commission (Inec) excluded his legitimate candidate from the Governor Election on September 21, 2024

The Petitioners further argue that Inec’s failure to issue the name of a legitimate AA candidate is a significant non-compliance with section 134 (1) (b) of the Election Law. In addition, they accused that the election, who saw the Governor of the Congress of All Progressive (APC) Okpebholo emerged as a winner, was tarnished by corruption practices and that he did not secure the majority of valid votes.

Also read: DSS arrested two suspects in the murder of 16 northern people in the state of Edo

However, the court rejected this claim, upholding the initial objections submitted by Inec and the Governor of Okpebholo. Respondents argue that the National Chairperson of AA does not have a legal position (locus standi) to submit a petition, because he did not participate in the governor election. They also believe that the petition was prohibited by the law, because it raised the pre-elect issue outside the court.

In its decision, the court agreed with the respondent’s argument, concluding that the petition was indeed centered on things that fell outside of their jurisdiction.

It should be noted that a few days before the election, AA’s initial candidate, Mr. Tom Iseghhi-Okojie, has openly resigned to support the Governor of Okpebholo.

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