Edo: APC Urges Tribunal to Dismiss PDP’s Petition Against Okpebholo’s Victory
Edo 2024: APC Seeks Dismissal of PDP’s Petition Challenging Okpebholo’s Victory
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the Edo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal to dismiss a petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), contesting the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
At the tribunal’s sitting in Benin on Wednesday, APC’s counsel, Ferdinand Orbih, SAN, described the PDP’s petition as incompetent. Orbih argued that the petition was not filed in compliance with existing legal provisions and that the tribunal lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
Citing a motion dated November 30, supported by a seven-paragraph affidavit, Orbih outlined further grounds for seeking the petition’s dismissal.
In response, the PDP’s counsel, Ken Mozia, SAN, urged the tribunal to reject the APC’s submission. Mozia stated that the PDP had filed a counter-affidavit to contest the APC’s motion.
The tribunal’s chairman, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, reserved ruling on the motion until the final judgment day.
In another motion, the APC requested the tribunal to strike out specific paragraphs in the PDP’s petition and that of its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo. Orbih argued for a ruling on the motion before the hearing of the petition commenced.
However, Mozia opposed the application, urging the tribunal to dismiss it for lacking merit. Justice Kpochi decided that rulings on all preliminary motions would be delivered alongside the final judgment.
Earlier, the PDP also filed four motions seeking to remove certain paragraphs from the replies submitted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC, and Governor Okpebholo.
The tribunal adjourned the case to December 21 for the parties to file a joint proposal to guide the hearing process.
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