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 Rufai Omoaje, challenging the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo. The tribunal ruled that the petition lacked merit and was frivolous, affirming Okpebholo as the duly elected governor from the September 21, 2024, election.
The tribunal determined that Omoaje did not have the legal standing to file the petition, as he did not participate in the governorship election. His grievance centered on not being recognized as the National Chairman of the Action Alliance for candidate nomination purposes, a claim the tribunal found unsubstantiated under the Electoral Act of 2022.
In the same session, the tribunal also dismissed petitions from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) against Governor Okpebholo’s election, citing insufficient evidence of electoral malpractice.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner with 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, who secured 247,655 votes.
These tribunal decisions reaffirm Governor Okpebholo’s mandate and underscore the judiciary’s role in upholding electoral integrity.
