Sen. Adams Oshiomhole won the Edo North Senatorial District election on February 25. This decision was supported by the National/State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, which is based in Benin.
The panel also confirmed Rep. Ihonvbere Julius’ election to represent the Owan Federal Constituency on behalf of the APC.
The plea submitted by former senator and PDP member Francis Alimikhena was rejected by the three-person panel, which was presided over by Justice O.A. Chuioke, for lack of merit.
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Alimikhena filed a lawsuit against Sen Oshiomhole, the former governor of the state, together with INEC and the APC, under the case number EPT/ED/SEN/02/2023 through his attorney, Mr. Rasak Isenalume.
The first petitioner, Alimikhena, requested in his petition that the tribunal deem Oshiomhole’s election invalid due to his failure to follow the law’s requirements and declare him the election’s victor.
He also urged the tribunal to annul the election of the previous APC National Chairman because it was claimed that the BIVAS machine failed to transmit the results of the poll to the IREV Portal.
In the alternative, Alimikhena requested that the tribunal order a new election because there had been grave legal violations.
However, lawyers for the respondents urged the tribunal to dismiss the petitioners’ complaint for lack of merit in their respective submissions.
Justice Alero Akeredolu, the tribunal’s chairman, delivered the unanimous decision on behalf of the panel and stated that the petitioners had utterly failed to establish their case. He also stated that they could not have relied on the strength or weakness of the respondents to establish their claims against Oshiomhole.