Tribunal gives verdict on Oshiomhole's Senatorial Election

The election victory of former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North has been upheld by the National/State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Benin City, Edo state capital.

As reported by The Nation, the three-man tribunal, led by Justice O.A. Chuioke, gave the judgement on Tuesday, September 5 after dismissing the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Francis Alimikhena, for lack of merit.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Oshiomhole the winner of the February 25 election.

The tribunal held that the petitioners failed to prove their case and tender any relevant document to prove a case of non-compliance as contained in their petitions.

Alimikhena, former Senator through his counsel, Rasak Isenalume, in the suit NO: EPT/ED/SEN/02/2023, asked the tribunal to declare null and void the election of former Edo state governor.

According to the petition against Oshiomhole, alongside INEC and All Progressive Congress (APC), Isenalume said the former governor’s victory is not in noncompliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.

Alimikhena added alleged non-transmission of election results through the use of a BIVAS machine to the IREV Portal during the election.

On the alternative, the PDP candidate prayed the tribunal to order a rerun of the election owing to non-substantial compliance with the law.