The National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal in Benin, Edo State, has upheld the declaration of Senator Adams Oshiomhole of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the February 25, 2023, Edo North Senatorial District election. The tribunal also affirmed the election of Julius Ihonvbere of the APC as the member representing Owan Federal Constituency.
The tribunal, led by Justice O.A. Chuioke, dismissed the petition filed by former Senator Francis Alimikhena, who was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for lack of merit. Alimikhena had challenged Oshiomhole’s victory, alleging non-compliance with electoral laws and non-transmission of election results.
However, the tribunal unanimously ruled that the petitioners failed to prove their case and couldn’t rely on the weaknesses or strengths of the respondents to make their case against Oshiomhole. They also failed to present relevant documents to prove non-compliance as alleged in their petitions. Consequently, the tribunal dismissed the petition against Oshiomhole.
Similarly, the tribunal dismissed the petition filed by Jimoh Ijiegbai and the PDP against the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Ihonvbere as the winner of the Owan Federal Constituency election. The tribunal concurred with the argument of Ihonvbere’s lead counsel, Mr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN), that the petition had failed in its entirety.
In a separate development, the Ogun State Governorship Election Tribunal, sitting in Abeokuta, has reserved judgment on the petitions against the election of Governor Dapo Abiodun and the APC. The tribunal said it would communicate a date for judgment after counsels adopted their final written addresses. Chris Uche (SAN) represented the petitioners, Ladipupo Adebutu and the PDP.
Adebutu and the PDP are challenging the election results in Ogun State. The respondents urged the tribunal to dismiss the petitions, arguing that the documents tendered by the petitioners were inadmissible, unsigned, and lacked evidential value. They also argued that the petitioners failed to specify the particular polling units with over-voting or non-compliance.
The petitioners, in response, urged the tribunal to consider their evidence and grant the reliefs they sought in their petitions. They criticized the respondents for discrediting documents that INEC had issued and certified.
The tribunal will announce its judgment at a later date.