The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja has dismissed the petition filed by the Action Alliance and its candidate, Adekunle Omoaje, challenging the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
Delivering its judgment on Wednesday, the three-member tribunal ruled that the petition lacked merit and was frivolous.
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 All Progressives Congress candidate did not secure the majority of lawful votes and that the Independent National Electoral Commission acted illegally in declaring him the winner.
The petitioners also claimed that their party was denied the opportunity to field a governorship candidate because the nomination form had not been signed by the party’s National Chairman.
Okpebholo was declared the winner by INEC with 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, 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 also stated that his claims, which were based on his non-recognition as AA’s National Chairman by INEC, had no legal basis under the Electoral Act 2022.
As a result, the tribunal dismissed the petition in its entirety.
