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 All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In its ruling on Wednesday, the three-member tribunal struck out the petition, describing it as lacking merit and frivolous.
AA and Omoaje had contested Okpebholo’s victory in the September 21, 2024, governorship election, accusing him of engaging in corrupt practices and failing to comply with the Electoral Act. They argued that the APC candidate did not secure a majority of valid votes and that INEC’s declaration of Okpebholo as the winner was both illegal and unconstitutional.
Additionally, the petitioners claimed that AA was denied the chance to field a candidate due to the party’s nomination form not being signed by its National Chairman.
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 judgment, the tribunal ruled that Omoaje lacked the legal standing to challenge the election, as he did not participate in the poll. It further stated that his claims, arising from his non-recognition as AA’s National Chairman by INEC, were unfounded under the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
As a result, the tribunal dismissed the petition in its entirety.
