Tribunal affirms election of Edo LP Rep

The National/State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Benin on Thursday affirmed the election of Mr Omoruyi Osaro of the Labour Party (LP) for the Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency of Edo. In a unanimous Judgement by the three-member panel, led by Justice O. A. Chijioke, the tribunal dismissed the petitions of the candidates of the PDP, Mr Okhuarobo Henry and that of APC Mr Crosby Eribo for lack of merits The tribunal held that the two petitioners could not prove a case of non-compliance with the electoral act, corrupt practices and non-qualification allegations against the LP candidate in the election. Delivering the judgement, Justice O.A. Chijioke held that the petitioners failed to prove their cases, and thereby dismissed the petitions for lack of merit. “We hold that the petitioners failed to prove any of the grounds raised in the petitions and the petitions are hereby dismissed for lack of merits, ‘’ he said. The petitioners, Henry and Eribo had approached the tribunal to challenge the election of Osaro on the grounds that he was not qualified to contest for the election. They claimed non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022 in the conduct of the election, as well as Osaro’s dual nationality adding that the LP could not have had a candidate in the said election. However, the Justice Chijioke led election panel resolved all the grounds and averred that the petitioners merely dumped documents on the tribunal without any probative value. Eribo had alleged that the LP candidate was a citizen of the U.S and his standing for election negated Section 77 of the Electoral Act, 2022 as well as Section 66 of the Constitution of Nigeria. He also contended that Osaro was not validly nominated by the LP for the election, which by inference meant that the LP had no candidate in the election.

Impeachment Saga: Court adjourns Edo Dep Gov Shuaibu’s suit

Justice Ahmed Mohammed of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday adjourned till August 22, hearing in the suit filed by the Edo State Deputy Governor, Phillip Shuaibu over an alleged plan by the State governor, Godwin Obaseki to impeach him from office. The court insisted on the earlier order that status quo ante bellum be maintained by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), State Security Service (SSS), Obaseki, Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly and the Chief Judge of Edo state, who are listed as defendants respectfully in the suit. At the last adjourned date, Justice Mohammed ordered the respondents to appear before him, Thursday, to show cause why they should not be permanently restrained from impeaching the Edo State deputy governor. However, when the matter was called on Thursday, counsel to the plaintiff, George Ibrahim, informed the court that the first and second defendants did not file any affidavit to show cause as directed by the court. Responding, counsel to the second defendant (SSS) Harold I. told the court that the service only filed a counter affidavit to the originating summons of the plaintiff. He said, “We are contending that we ought not to have been brought before the court, that is why we found it not necessary to show cause, as we have no business in the matter. We are waiting for the substantive application.” The trial Judge however admonished the counsel that he should have, at least filed the process first and then mentioned his grievances in the said process for the court to take note of. Although, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) was not represented in court, Justice Mohammed however adjourned the matter till August 22 and urged the SSS to file its affidavit to the order to show cause, parties should maintain status -quo ante bellum and that hearing notice be served on all the parties in the matter. Shuaibu, in his originating summons, is praying the Court to determine whether, in view of the provisions of sections 186 and 193 of the 1999 Constitution, Governor Obaseki has the power to instigate the IGP and SSS to prevent him from accessing his office to carry out his Constitutionally guaranteed duties. He is also asking the court to ascertain whether the Governor has power to instigate the Speaker and the Chief Judge to commence impeachment proceedings against him with a view to remove him from office on any other ground other than allegations of misconduct as contained in section 188 of the 1999 Constitution, among others. The trial Judge had, on August 4, issued a temporary restraining order while ruling in a motion on notice filed by Shuaibu asking the court to stop the move to ease him out of office by his principal.