The National/State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal convened in Benin, the capital of Edo State, has upheld the victory of Omoruyi Osaro, representing the Labour Party, in the February 25, 2023, Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency election in Edo.
The tribunal rejected two separate petitions brought by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Okhuarobo Osuede, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Hon. Crosby Eribo, challenging Osaro’s eligibility and the outcome of the National Assembly election.
In a unanimous decision delivered by the three-member tribunal panel presided over by Justice O. A. Chijioke, both petitions marked EPT/ED/HR/06/2023 and EPT/ED/HR/08/2023 were dismissed due to a lack of merit.
The tribunal determined that the two petitioners failed to establish a case of non-compliance with the electoral act, corrupt practices, or non-qualification allegations against the Labour Party candidate.
Justice O.A. Chijioke, in delivering the unanimous judgments, emphasized that the petitioners did not substantiate their claims and, as a result, 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,” ruled the tribunal.
The petitioners, Osamuede and Eribo, had separately approached the tribunal to challenge Osaro’s election, arguing that he was not qualified to contest. Eribo also alleged that Osaro held United States citizenship, which he contended violated the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 as amended and Section 66 of the Nigerian constitution. Eribo further claimed that Osaro was not validly nominated by the Labour Party, implying that the LP had no candidate in the election.
However, Justice Chijioke’s election panel dismissed all the claims against Okhuarobo and Eribo, stating that the petitioners had simply presented documents to the tribunal without probative value.