The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja has dismissed the petition filed by the Action Alliance (AA) and Adekunle Omoaje challenging the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo. The tribunal, in its judgment on Wednesday, described the petition as meritless and frivolous, striking it out in its entirety.
AA and Omoaje had contested Okpebholo’s victory in the September 21, 2024, governorship election, alleging corrupt practices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act. They argued that the APC candidate did not secure the majority of lawful votes and that the declaration of Okpebholo as the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was illegal and unconstitutional.
The petitioners further claimed that AA was denied the opportunity to field a governorship candidate because the party’s National Chairman had not signed the nomination form.
INEC had declared Okpebholo the winner with 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 247,655 votes.
In its ruling, the tribunal determined that Omoaje lacked the legal standing to challenge the election since he did not participate in the poll. It also dismissed his claims, which were based on his non-recognition as AA’s National Chairman by INEC, as unfounded under the Electoral Act of 2022.
As a result, the tribunal dismissed the petition in its entirety.
