Obaseki wins as tribunal dismisses ADP petition, others

Agency ReporterMarch 29, 2021

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The Edo State governorship Election Petition Tribunal dismissed on Monday a petition filed by the Action Democratic Party (ADP) against Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The petitioners filed a petition contending the outcome of the September 19, 2020, governorship election in which governor Godwin Obaseki was declared the winner.

The ADP and its governorship candidate, Iboi Emmanuel had filed a petition before the Tribunal challenging the election victory of Governor Obaseki.

Other petitions dismissed by the Tribunal included the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) against INEC, PDP, Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu.

Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Yunusa Musa said the petition was lacking in merit.

Also, the Tribunal dismissed ADP’s petition against INEC, PDP, Obaseki, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Osagie Ize-Iyamu holding that the petitioners, 4th and 5th respondents have not proved that at the time of contesting the election, Obaseki was not qualified to participate in the election

The tribunal held that Obaseki was qualified to contest the September 19 governorship election in the state.

Delivering judgement on the petition of the Action Democratic Party and Emmanuel Iboi, the tribunal held that the third respondent, Godwin Obaseki did not submit a forged certificate or false information to INEC for the purpose of qualifying for the election.

As to the issue of whether the third respondent was educated up to school certificate level having filled in-dash in the column for primary education in the form, the Tribunal held that that dash was reflected in the column is of no moment as it was evident that he is educated beyond school certificate level.

Reacting to the allegation of the double nomination of the third respondent, the tribunal held that the petitioners did not establish a case of double nomination against the 3rd respondent.

The tribunal had dismissed the petition, affirmed the election of Godwin Obaseki as the Governor of Edo State in the September 19 governorship election

Justice Suleiman Yahaha Abubakar, member 1 read the judgement. There was no dissenting view.

The tribunal also ruled on a preliminary objection and some applications. Ruling on the application seeking the striking out of the fourth respondent, the APC and the fifth respondent, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, for not being statutory respondents, the tribunal struck out the fourth and fifth respondents and all processes filed for and by them in relation to the petition.