The Edo State Governorship Tribunal in Abuja has dismissed the petition filed by the “Action Alliance” (AA) and Adekunle Omoaje against Governor Monday Okpebholo and the “All Progressives Congress” (APC), ruling that it lacked merit and was frivolous.
The Tribunal determined that Adekunle Omoaje, who filed the joint petition, has no locus standi to institute the case.
Among others, the Tribunal held that Omoaje did not participate in the governorship election and, as such, has no power to question the validity of the election.
The Tribunal also held that Omoaje’s grouse against the election was that he was not recognized as the National Chairman of the Action Alliance to nominate a candidate for the poll, but it was held that his claims had no basis in the Electoral Act 2022.
Omoaje had in the petition asked the Tribunal to declare the declaration of Okpebholo and APC as winners of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC as illegal, unlawful, unconditional, and null and void on non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
He also alleged corruption and that Okpebholo and APC did not win majority of lawful votes in the election.
Omoaje also alleged that AA was not allowed to nominate a lawful governorship candidate for the election, having not signed the nomination form as the National Chairman of the party.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had declared that Okpebholo of the APC won 291, 667 votes to defeat his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, who polled 247, 655 votes in the election
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