The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the Edo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal to reject the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the victory of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
In a motion presented on Wednesday, APC’s lawyer, Ferdinand Orbih, SAN, argued that the PDP’s petition was improperly filed and does not comply with the law.
Orbih also claimed the tribunal lacked the authority to hear the case, citing additional points in a motion paper dated November 30.
In response, PDP’s lawyer, Ken Mozia, SAN, refuted APC’s claims, presenting counter-arguments to the tribunal.
The tribunal’s chair, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, deferred a ruling on the matter until the final decision day.
The APC also sought to have certain paragraphs in the PDP’s petition struck out. Orbih urged the tribunal to make a decision on this before proceeding with the main case.
PDP’s lawyer, however, called for the rejection of the APC’s motion. Justice Kpochi decided that rulings on preliminary motions would be made on the final day.
The case centers around the PDP’s challenge to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration of Okpebholo’s victory in the September 21 election, where he secured 291,667 votes, defeating the PDP’s candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, who garnered 247,274 votes.
The tribunal is set to resume on December 21.
