EDO STATE: AA, APP Sue INEC, Obaseki, Demand Fresh Election

Two political parties; Action Alliance (AA) and Action Peoples Party (APP) have approached the Edo State Gubernatorial Election Petition Tribunal faulting the outcome of the election on the ground of “unlawful exclusion”.

APP, in the petition in which Governor Obaseki, the PDP and INEC are respondents, claimed that it was unlawfully excluded just as AA’s candidate, Ukonga Frank Onaivi, claimed in his petition that he was also excluded unlawfully, in spite of being the validly-nominated candidate of the party, in line with the Electoral Act.

Both petitioners are praying the tribunal to declare the September 19 governorship election in Edo State non and void, where INEC gave victory to Governor Godwin Obaseki of the PDP and asked that a fresh election to be ordered within 90 days, while the validly-nominated candidate (Ukonga of AA) and APP should be included in the new ballot papers.

According to the Secretary of the Tribunal, Sunday Martins, Saturday was the last day for submission of petitions by political parties and their candidates.

He stated that respondents have 21 days, from the dates of filing the petitions, to respond to the petitions/allegations levelled against them, after which the inaugural sitting will be held.”