The Edo State governorship election petition tribunal on Friday dismissed the petition filed by the Action Alliance (AA) against the re-election of Governor Godwin Obaseki for the second term in office.
BusinessDay had on Monday reported that the petitioner failed to file for issuance of pre-hearing notice which is one of the conditions required by the Electoral Act 2010.
Following arguments between counsels of both parties, the tribunal adjourned to Friday, December 11 (today), for ruling.
Action Alliance is one of the four political parties challenging the outcome of the September 19, 2020, Edo State governorship election that brought in Obaseki.
The petitioners predicated their petitions on the basis that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to include their candidates in the governorship election.
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Delivering the ruling in Benin City, Justice Chukwudi K. Nkwakwor, member of the tribunal, dismissed the petition against the respondents for failing to file pre-hearing notice.
In a unanimous decision, the tribunal ruled that the petitioners have abandoned their petition.
Responding to the ruling, counsel to the petitioner, Stephen Osaigbovo, said: “it was a mere irregularity and we shall file a notice of appeal”.
The other parties challenging the outcome of the election in the tribunal include Action Democratic Party (ADP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
