The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has dismissed the petition filed by the Action Alliance (AA) and its National Chairman, Adekunle Omoaje, challenging the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In its ruling on Wednesday, the three-member tribunal described the petition as lacking merit and being frivolous. The petitioners had sought to nullify Okpebholo’s victory in the September 21, 2024, governorship election, citing allegations of electoral malpractice and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
AA and Omoaje argued that Okpebholo did not win the majority of lawful votes and claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) erred in declaring him the governor. They also alleged that their party was unjustly denied the opportunity to field a candidate because the nomination form had not been signed by the party’s 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 secured 247,655 votes.
However, the tribunal ruled that Omoaje lacked the legal standing to challenge the election since he was not a candidate in the race. It also held that his claims regarding his status as AA’s National Chairman had no relevance under the Electoral Act 2022.
Consequently, the tribunal dismissed the petition in its entirety, reaffirming Okpebholo’s election as the duly elected governor of Edo State and putting to rest the legal challenge against his mandate.
