The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja has dismissed a petition by the Action Alliance (AA) seeking to annul the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo. The ruling, delivered on Wednesday by a three-member panel led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, stated that the case lacked merit.
The petition, which was filed by the AA alongside its National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, centered on allegations that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wrongfully excluded the party’s legitimate candidate from the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
The petitioners argued that INEC violated several court rulings by recognizing a candidate who was not validly nominated by the party. They further claimed that the electoral commission’s decision not to publish the name of their rightful candidate amounted to a violation of section 134(1)(b) of the Electoral Act.
Additionally, the petitioners alleged that Governor Okpebholo, who contested under the All Progressives Congress (APC), did not win the majority of lawful votes in the election. They also claimed that the process was tainted by corrupt practices and called for the nullification of the election results.
However, the tribunal rejected these arguments, ruling that the case involved pre-election matters that were beyond its jurisdiction. The panel upheld all preliminary objections raised against the petition, siding with INEC and Governor Okpebholo’s legal team.
The respondents argued that the AA’s National Chairman, Omoaje, lacked the legal standing to challenge the election since he was not a candidate in the race. They also pointed out that the case was statute-barred, meaning it was filed too late to be heard by the tribunal.
