The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on September 22 declared Okpebholo the winner of the governorship poll, announcing that he had received 291,667 votes to defeat his closest rivals, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party, who had received 247,274 and 22,763 votes, respectively.
The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal will begin sitting in Benin City on Monday to hear petitions contesting the victory of Monday Okpebholo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the September 21, 2024 governorship election. The Tribunal’s secretary, Muazu Bagudu, confirmed the development on Tuesday, stating that pre-hearing sessions will begin for seven petitions filed by candidates and political parties unhappy with the election’s outcome.
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.
The Accord Party and another petitioner have also brought INEC, Okpebholo, and the APC before the tribunal in suit number EPT/ED/GOV/01/2024. In a same vein, the PDP and Ighodalo have petitioned the tribunal as first and second parties in suit number EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, contesting INEC’s announcement of Okpebholo as the victor.
The three-member tribunal will supervise the proceedings and assess each petition’s merit under the direction of Justice Wilfred Kpochi.
Additional petitioners include Anerua Abdulai Aliu and Social Democratic Party vs. INEC, Okpebholo, and APC in Suit number EPT/ED/GOV/04/2024; Alliance Party, Adekunle Rufia Omo-Aje vs. INEC, Monday Okpebholo, and APC in Suit number EPT/ED/GOV/03/2024.
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.
