Edo gov election tribunal begins pre-hearing Monday

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, will on Monday in Benin, the state capital, commence sitting/pre-hearing on the petitions challenging the declaration of the All Progressives Congress candidate, Monday Okpebholo, as the winner of the September 21, 2024 poll.

The Secretary of the Tribunal, Muazu Bagudu, disclosed on Tuesday in Benin.

It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission on Sunday, September 22, 2024, declared Okpebholo winner of the poll, after polling 291,667 votes to defeat candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party, Asue Ighodalo and Olumide Akpata who scored 247, 274 and 22,763 votes respectively

Dissatisfied with the declaration of INEC, the PDP and six other political parties who participated in the poll approached the tribunal to challenge the outcome.

The three-man tribunal headed by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, is expected to hear seven petitions filed by different political parties and their candidates.

The PDP in particular, is asking the tribunal to nullify the result and instead, declare its candidate, Ighodalo, the winner of the election.

In suit number, EPT/ED/GOV/ 01/2024, the Accord Party and Anor have dragged the INEC, Okpebholo and the APC, first to third respondents before the triibunal.

Also, the PDP, Ighodalo, acting as first and second petitioners in Suit No. EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, also approached the tribunal to challenge INEC’s declaration of Governor Okpebholo as the winner of the poll.

INEC, Okpebholo and APC are the respondents in the petition

Other petitioners are Alliance Party, Adekunle Rufia Omo-Aje Vs. INEC, Monday Okpebholo and APC in Suit number EPT/ ED/ GOV/03/2024; Anerua Abdulai Aliu and Social Democratic Party Vs. INEC, Okpebholo and APC in EPT/ED/GOV/04/2024.

Ugiagbe Osaro Sylvester and Allied Peoples Movement Vs. INEC, Okpebholo and APC, EPT/ED/GOV/ 05/2024; Akhimie Kingson Afeare and Action Democratic Party Vs. INEC, Okpebholo and APC, EPT/ ED/ GOV/ 06/2024 and Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena and Zenith Labour Party Vs. INEC, Okpebholo and APC in Suit number EPT/ED/GOV/ 07/2024.

It would be recalled that one week before the conduct of the September 21 governorship poll in Edo State, the National Judicial Council inaugurated the Election Petition Tribunal.