The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the Edo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal to reject the appeal submitted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) contesting the election result that favored Governor Monday Okpebholo.
During a preliminary hearing in Benin, the APC’s legal representative, Ferdinand Orbih, SAN, characterized the PDP’s petition as fundamentally flawed. He argued before the three-member tribunal that the petition did not comply with legal requirements, thereby rendering the tribunal without jurisdiction to consider it.
Orbih provided additional arguments for dismissal, referencing a motion filed on November 30, which was supported by a detailed seven-paragraph affidavit.
In response, the PDP’s attorney, Ken Mozia, SAN, challenged Orbih’s assertions and requested the tribunal to dismiss the APC’s motion. Mozia emphasized that the petitioners had submitted a reply along with a counter-affidavit to refute the claims made by the APC.
The tribunal’s chairman, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, decided to postpone the ruling on the motion until the final judgment day.
Additionally, the APC filed a separate motion seeking to eliminate certain paragraphs from the PDP’s petition and that of its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo. Orbih urged the tribunal to address this motion prior to the start of the main proceedings.
