The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja has dismissed the petition filed by the Action Alliance (AA) and Adekunle Omoaje challenging the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In its ruling on Wednesday, the three-member tribunal struck out the case, calling it frivolous and lacking merit.
The petitioners had alleged corrupt practices and violations of the Electoral Act in the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
They claimed that Okpebholo did not secure the majority of lawful votes and that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) erred in declaring him the winner.
AA and Omoaje further argued that their party was denied the opportunity to field a candidate because the nomination form had not been signed by the National Chairman. INEC had declared Okpebholo the winner with 291,667 votes, ahead of his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who secured 247,655 votes.
The tribunal ruled that Omoaje lacked the legal standing to challenge the election since he did not participate in it.
It also found that his claims, based on INEC’s non-recognition of him as AA’s National Chairman, had no foundation under the Electoral Act 2022.
As a result, the tribunal dismissed the petition in its entirety.
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