Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Four of the political parties that participated in the just concluded Edo State governorship election have filed petitions challenging the outcomes of the election where the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner.
The Petitioners have said that, “the 1st Respondent, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ought to have nullified the exercise and order a fresh election in Edo State where the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the regulations and guidelines for the conduct of elections of the 1st respondent shall be complied with.”
The parties are All People Movement (APM), All Peoples Party (APP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).
In their different petitions, they are challenging the results declared by the INEC in the nine local government areas won by the Peoples Democratic Party and one won by the APC.
The LGAs being challenged by ADP, SDP, ZLP and APM are: Esan North East, Esan South West, Igueben, Ikpoba Okha, Orhionmwon, Ovia South West, Ovia North East and Uhunmwonde local government areas.
The aggrieved parties are also challenging the conduct of the election in Egor local government area that was won by the APC.
SDP PETITION
The petitioners aver separately that, “…no winner can emerge from the election which was held in fundamental breach of the Electoral Act and Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of the first respondent.”
They added that, “…the failure by the 1st Respondent through its Presiding Officers to electronically transmit collated votes at polling units as required by law has rendered the votes allocated to the 2nd Respondent invalid and his declaration as winner of the Election a nullity.”
ADM PETITION
The Petitioners aver also, that, “the votes accredited to the 2nd Respondent and indeed all the candidates for the Election are invalid votes having emanated from an election conducted in fundamental breach of the Electoral Act and Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of Elections of the 1st Respondent.
The Petitioners added that, “…the 1st Respondent ought to have nullified the election and order a fresh election in Edo State where at the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of Elections of the 1st Respondent shall be complied with.”
ZLP PETITION
In their Prayers and Reliefs, the parties are asking the Election Tribunal to grant amongst other things, an “Order that the return of the 2nd Respondent of All Progressive Congress (APC), the 3rd Respondent as winner of the Edo State governorship Election was invalid by reason of corrupt practices which occurred at the election in Edo State.
“An Order that the return of the 2nd Respondent of All Progressive Congress (APC), the 3rd Respondent as winner of the Edo State Governorship Election was invalid by reason of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the Regulations and Guidelines issued thereunder at the election in Edo State.
Finally, the aggrieved parties want an “Order nullifying the Edo State Governorship Election held on the 21st September, 2024 for non compliance with the Mandatory Provisions of the Electoral Act.”