The Edo State governorship election tribunal has dismissed a petition by the Action Alliance (AA) and its leader, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, against Governor Monday Okpebholo and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The tribunal ruled that the petition lacked merit and was baseless.
The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, gave a unanimous ruling in Abuja on Wednesday.
The court found that Omoaje had no legal right to challenge the election outcome since he did not participate in the poll.
Tribunal Rules Against Action Alliance
Omoaje had claimed that he was the rightful National Chairman of the Action Alliance and that his party was denied the opportunity to nominate a candidate for the September 21, 2024, election. However, the tribunal ruled that his argument had no foundation under the Electoral Act 2022.
“Omoaje did not contest the election and, therefore, lacks the legal standing to dispute its validity,” the tribunal ruled.
The petitioner also alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) unlawfully declared Okpebholo as the winner.
He accused the APC of electoral misconduct and claimed the party did not secure the majority of lawful votes. The tribunal rejected all these claims.
INEC Confirms Okpebholo’s Victory
INEC had earlier announced that Okpebholo of the APC won the election with 291,667 votes. His closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), secured 247,655 votes.
Omoaje wanted the tribunal to declare the election null and void, but the court found no evidence to support his claims. The judgment reaffirmed Okpebholo’s legitimacy as the duly elected governor of Edo State.
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