Edo gov election tribunal begins pre-hearing Monday

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, will on Monday in Benin, the state capital, begin sitting/pre-hearing on the petitions difficult the declaration of the All Progressives Congress candidate, Monday Okpebholo, because the winner of the September 21, 2024 ballot.

The Secretary of the Tribunal, Muazu Bagudu, disclosed on Tuesday in Benin.

It could be recalled that the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee on Sunday, September 22, 2024, declared Okpebholo winner of the ballot, after polling 291,667 votes to defeat candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party, Asue Ighodalo and Olumide Akpata who scored 247, 274 and 22,763 votes respectively

Dissatisfied with the declaration of INEC, the PDP and 6 different political events who participated within the ballot approached the tribunal to problem the result.

The three-man tribunal headed by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, is anticipated to listen to seven petitions filed by completely different political events and their candidates.

The PDP particularly, is asking the tribunal to nullify the consequence and as a substitute, declare its candidate, Ighodalo, the winner of the election.

In swimsuit quantity, EPT/ED/GOV/ 01/2024, the Accord Party and Anor have dragged the INEC, Okpebholo and the APC, first to 3rd respondents earlier than the triibunal.

Additionally, the PDP, Ighodalo, appearing as first and second petitioners in Go well with No. EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, additionally approached the tribunal to problem INEC’s declaration of Governor Okpebholo because the winner of the ballot.

INEC, Okpebholo and APC are the respondents within the petition

Different petitioners are Alliance Party, Adekunle Rufia Omo-Aje Vs. INEC, Monday Okpebholo and APC in Go well with quantity EPT/ ED/ GOV/03/2024; Anerua Abdulai Aliu and Social Democratic Party Vs. INEC, Okpebholo and APC in EPT/ED/GOV/04/2024.

Ugiagbe Osaro Sylvester and Allied Peoples Motion Vs. INEC, Okpebholo and APC, EPT/ED/GOV/ 05/2024; Akhimie Kingson Afeare and Motion Democratic Party Vs. INEC, Okpebholo and APC, EPT/ ED/ GOV/ 06/2024 and Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena and Zenith Labour Party Vs. INEC, Okpebholo and APC in Go well with quantity EPT/ED/GOV/ 07/2024.

It could be recalled that one week earlier than the conduct of the September 21 governorship ballot in Edo State, the Nationwide Judicial Council inaugurated the Election Petition Tribunal.