Nelson Utip
The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Edo State will soon commence sitting in Benin City to look into petitions challenging the victory of Monday Okpebolo of the All Progressives Congress in the September 21, 2024 gubernatorial election, The Secretary of the Tribunal, Muazu Bagudu, stated this on Tuesday, confirming that pre-hearing sessions will commence for seven petitions filed by political parties and candidates who were not comfortable with the results of the election.
It’s on record that The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC on September 22 declared Okpebholo the winner of the gubernatorial election with a total of 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.
The PDP and six other political parties, filed petitions at the tribunal to contest the results. The PDP, particularly is telling the tribunal to anull the election result and 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 tribunal comprising three men is led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, who will oversee the proceedings and determine the merit of the petitions.
Other petitions filed in the tribunal includes that of 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.
The election petition tribunal was Inaugurated by the National Judicial Council a week before the September 21 gubernatorial election in the state.
