Politics
Edo: APC, PDP begin legal battle at tribunal today
The All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party say they are ready for legal battle as the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal commences hearing of the petitions challenging the outcome of the September 21, 2024 poll.
Independent National Electoral Commission declared the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, winner of the poll, while the PDP candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo, was declared the first runner-up.
The PDP and Ighodalo, however, rejected the result of the poll, which they alleged was manipulated and therefore filed a petition before the tribunal.
Ahead of the tribunal’s pre-hearing today (Monday), the Edo PDP Caretaker Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, called for a fair examination of the evidence before the tribunal.
“That is what we expected the tribunal to do. Our lawyers will be there to show clearly that the election was stolen by the All Progressives Congress. For us as a party, we believe that the judiciary will look at the evidence that we have overwhelmingly to show that the election was stolen and we expect our lawyers to do justice to that.
“We expect the judiciary to look at the case dispassionately based on the evidence before them and take a decision that will have traces of justice,” he said.
On the other hand, the APC Publicity Secretary, Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, expressed confidence in his party’s legal team and readiness to challenge the PDP’s petition.
He said: “We are prepared for the tribunal as we are respondent in the petition being filed. We have some of best hand in our legal team. We have also looked at the petition they filed and without prejudice to the case they filed, we want to say that we are ready to meet them in court.”
He added: “We are also ready to expose any PDP’s act that can be prejudicial to the case. We know that the calibre of those who have been appointed into the tribunal are people who are impenetrable and have proven integrity.”
Uwadiae-Igbinigie further stated: “We know the case they have filed against us and we have also filed our responses. Edo people will now know that the PDP has lost electoral value in the state while the APC government is ready to embark on programmes that will better the lot of Edo people.”
INEC had declared APC’s Okpebholo the winner of the election with 291,667 votes, defeating PDP’s Ighodalo, who garnered 247,274 votes, and the Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata, who received 22,763 votes.
Dissatisfied with INEC’s declaration, the PDP and six other political parties have approached the tribunal to contest the result.
The tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, is set to hear seven separate petitions, with the PDP seeking to nullify the result and have Ighodalo declared the winner.
Other petitioners include the Accord Party, Social Democratic Party, and Allied Peoples Movement, each challenging the election results and naming INEC, Okpebholo, and the APC as respondents.
The caretaker committee of the Labour Party, led by Senator Nenadi Usman, has launched an investigation into Barrister Julius Abure over allegations of misconduct, including corruption, misappropriation of party funds, and anti-party activities.
Briefing the media in Abuja on Wednesday, Senator Usman accused Abure of persistently parading himself as the national chairman of the party despite being removed, and of running the Labour Party as a personal enterprise to pursue selfish ambitions.
She stated that rather than fostering unity, Abure allegedly exploited his position for personal enrichment.
To address these allegations, the caretaker committee has set up a disciplinary panel, chaired by Senator Ireti Kingibe, with Peter Ameh serving as secretary. The panel is tasked with investigating the allegations against Abure and recommending appropriate disciplinary measures.
The committee has summoned Abure to appear before the disciplinary panel to respond to various petitions and charges brought against him.
Furthermore, the caretaker committee criticized Abure’s alleged hijacking of party structures without following due process, including the failure to conduct ward, local government, state, and zonal congresses ahead of a national convention.
The Nenadi Usman-led team pledged to restore internal democracy, announcing that a timetable for proper congresses and the election of national executives will be released soon.
This is coming a few days after the Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party set up a disciplinary committee to investigate allegations of anti-party activities against Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, and other members.
It said “NEC reviewed the anti party activities of Alex Otti, the Abia State Governor” and other errant members and consequently set up a disciplinary committee.
The committee chaired by Ayo Olorunfemi, was given two weeks to submit its report.
…appoints Caretaker Committee
The PDP Ughelli North convened a meeting to update members on the party’s current situation following the defection of the Governor and other leaders to the All Progressive Congress (APC) .
Key stakeholders, including Chief Udu Omo Scott , Pharm. Simon Ohwo, and Mr. Alex Akporute , Chief Jawhono Orovwoni , Chief Rita Agba , Hon Majemite Joel Lucky and others addressed the gathering, urging members to remain faithful to the party, reassured members that the party would bounce back stronger, despite recent challenges.
The PDP Members present pledged their full support and promised to mobilize more supporters for the party.
The meeting’s highlight was the appointment of a Caretaker Committee to lead the party. The committee members include
Hon. Daniel Emaye as Chairman
Comr. Umukoro Oghenekaro as Vice Chairman
Comr. Efe Oberiko as Secretary.
The Caretaker Committee’s members are tasked with guiding the party’s affairs and strengthening its presence in the Local government.
Other key officials appointed include
Mr. Benedict Oghenerukevwe (Youth Leader)
Madam Ufuoma Omoru (Woman Leader)
Comr. George Oghenekevwe (Treasurer)
Comr. Aderiobor Blessing (Publicity Secretary)
Mr Ochuko Jonathan Arhiakpore (Financial Secretary)
and Mr. Thompson Akpososo (Auditor).
All Delta State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, House of Representatives members have officially defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Their defection was made public by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, during plenary on Tuesday.
Details shortly…
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