Demands fresh election
Two political parties; Action Peoples Party (APP) and Action Alliance (AA) have contested the outcome of the Edo State Gubernatorial Election on the ground of “unlawful exclusion”.
The parties approached the Edo State Gubernatorial Election Petition Tribunal to state their grieviances. 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 of fulfilling the requirements of the Electoral Act as the validly nominated candidate of the party.
Both petitioners are praying the tribunal to nullify the September 19 governorship election in Edo State, where INEC gave victory to Gov. 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, today (Saturday) is the last day for submission of petitions by political parties and their candidates.
He said 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.”
