The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, has dismissed the petition filed by the Action Alliance (AA) and its candidate, Adekunle Omoaje, against the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, the three-member tribunal struck out the petition, describing it as lacking merit and frivolous.
Omoaje and his party had challenged Gov. 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 cast at the election and that the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration of Okpebholo as governor was illegal and unconstitutional.
The petitioners also contended that AA was denied the opportunity to field a governorship candidate, as the nomination form had not been signed by the party’s national chairman.
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INEC had declared Gov. Okpebholo the winner of the election with 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 247,655 votes.
In its ruling, the tribunal held that Omoaje lacked the legal standing to challenge the election since he did not participate in the poll.
It further stated that his claims, which stemmed from his non-recognition as AA’s national chairman by INEC, had no basis under the Electoral Act, 2022.
Consequently, the tribunal dismissed the petition in its entirety, affirming Gov. Okpebholo’s victory in the Edo State governorship election.
