The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal will commence sitting on Monday in Benin City to address petitions challenging the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo, in the September 21, 2024 governorship election.
The Secretary of the Tribunal, Muazu Bagudu, confirmed the development on Tuesday, noting that pre-hearing sessions will begin for seven petitions filed by political parties and candidates dissatisfied with the election’s outcome.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on September 22 declared Okpebholo the winner of the governorship poll, announcing that he garnered 291,667 votes to defeat his closest rivals, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party, who scored 247,274 and 22,763 votes respectively.
However, the PDP, alongside six other political parties, filed petitions at the tribunal to contest the results. The PDP, in particular, is seeking the nullification of the election results and is asking the tribunal to declare its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, as the rightful winner.
In suit number EPT/ED/GOV/01/2024, the Accord Party and another petitioner have also dragged INEC, Okpebholo, and the APC before the tribunal. Similarly, in suit number EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, the PDP and Ighodalo have approached the tribunal as first and second petitioners, challenging INEC’s declaration of Okpebholo as the winner.
The three-man tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, will oversee the proceedings and determine the merit of the various petitions.
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.