Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, will on Monday, 9th 2024 in Benin, begin sitting/pre-hearing on the petitions challenging the declaration of the All Progressives Congress’ Candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, as winner of the September 21, 2024 governorship poll held in the state.
Secretary of the Tribunal, Muazu Bagudu, said this in Benin.
It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had on Sunday, September 22, 2024 declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the APC winner of the poll, after pulling 291,667 votes to defeat candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), Dr. Asue Ighodalo and Barr. 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 declaration of the electoral umpire
The the 3-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, Asue Ighodalo as the winner of the said election.
In the Suit number EPT/ED/GOV/ 01/2024, the Accord Party and Anor has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Governor Monday Okpebholo and the All Progressives Congress (APC), 1st-3rd respondents before the Tribunal.
Also the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Ighodalo Asuerinme, acting as 1st and 2nd Petitioners in Suit No. EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, also approached the Tribunal to challenge INEC declaration of Governor Okpebholo as winner of the poll. INEC, Okpebholo and APC are the respondents in the petition
Other petitioners are Alliance Party, Hon. 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 (SDP) 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 governoship poll in Edo State, the National Judicial Council inaugurated the EPT.
Dissatisfied with the conduct of the poll, Dr. Asue Ighodalo and his party, PDP approached the Tribunal with an ex parte motion with suit number ED/GOV/01m/2024 and dated September 27, 2024, seeking the permission to inspect all electoral materials used during the poll.
The ex parte motion filed on behalf of the applicants by Rotimi Ogunso (SAN), with Seun Olusuyi, was granted by the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Kpochi.