The All Progressives Congress has called on the 2024 Edo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal to reject the petition filed by the People’s Democratic Party that challenges the victory of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
During a hearing on Wednesday, APC’s counsel, Ferdinand Orbih, SAN, argued that the PDP’s petition was not filed in accordance with the law and was, therefore, incompetent.
Orbih told the three-man panel sitting in Benin City that the tribunal did not have jurisdiction to entertain the matter. He added that additional grounds for the dismissal of the petition were included in a motion paper dated November 30, which was supported by a seven-paragraph affidavit.
In response, the PDP, represented by counsel Ken Mozia, SAN, asked the tribunal to disregard the APC’s submission. Mozia clarified that the PDP had filed a reply and counter-affidavit challenging the APC’s motion.
The tribunal’s chairman, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, reserved ruling on the motion, with a decision expected on the final day of the case.
The APC also filed a separate motion requesting the tribunal to strike out specific paragraphs in the petition filed by the PDP and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo. Orbih urged the tribunal to deliver its ruling on this motion before proceedings into the petition began. However, the PDP’s counsel opposed the application, asking the tribunal to dismiss it for lack of merit. Justice Kpochi, however, ruled that the tribunal would deliver rulings on all preliminary motions during the final judgment.
Earlier in the proceedings, the PDP had filed four motions requesting the tribunal to expunge certain paragraphs from the responses of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC, and Governor Okpebholo to its petition.
The tribunal adjourned to December 21, when the parties in the case will file a joint proposal to guide the tribunal in the upcoming hearings.
The PDP is contesting the declaration of Okpebholo as the winner of the September 21 governorship election by INEC. According to the electoral body, Okpebholo won with 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo, who secured 247,274 votes.
