The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has dismissed Action Alliance’s petition against Governor Monday Okpebholo, citing a lack of merit. The tribunal ruled that petitioner Adekunle Rufai Omoaje had no legal standing to challenge the election results. INEC had declared Okpebholo winner with 291,667 votes, defeating PDP’s Asue Ighodalo.
The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has ruled in favor of Governor Monday Okpebholo and the All Progressives Congress (APC), dismissing a petition filed by the Action Alliance (AA) and its member, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje. The tribunal declared that the case lacked legal merit and should not have been filed.
One of the key reasons for the dismissal was that Omoaje did not participate in the election and, therefore, had no legal standing to challenge the results. The tribunal also noted that his dispute centered on an internal party issue—his claim to the chairmanship of the Action Alliance—which was not relevant to the governorship election.
The petition sought to overturn the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration of Okpebholo as the winner, alleging electoral malpractice and non-compliance with the law. However, the tribunal found no substantial evidence to support these claims.
Governor Okpebholo had been declared winner of the September 21, 2024, election with 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who secured 247,655 votes. With this ruling, Okpebholo’s victory remains valid, further solidifying his position as Edo’s governor.
