The All Progressives Congress (APC) has prayed the 2024 Edo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal to dismiss the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenging the declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo as the winner of the September 21, 2024 Governorship Election in Edo State.
According to the APC, the PDP’s petition is incompetent and was not filed in accordance with the provisions of the law. The APC’s counsel, Ferdinand Orbih (SAN), argued that the tribunal lacks jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
The PDP, however, countered the APC’s argument, urging the tribunal to discountenance the APC’s motion. The PDP’s counsel, Ken Mozia (SAN), explained that the petitioners had filed a reply and counter-affidavit to challenge the motion.
The tribunal’s chairman, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, reserved ruling on the motion until the final day of the case. The tribunal also adjourned to Saturday for the parties in the case to file a common proposal that would guide the tribunal during the hearing.
The PDP is challenging the declaration of Okpebholo as the winner of the September 21 election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). According to INEC, Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes to defeat PDP’s Asue Ighodalo and the Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata, who recorded 247,274 and 22,763 votes, respectively.
