Tribunal upholds election of Edo LP Rep, Osaro

The National/State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Benin on Thursday affirmed the election of Mr Omoruyi Osaro of the Labour Party (LP) for the Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency of Edo.

In a unanimous judgment by the three-member panel, led by Justice O. A. Chijioke, the tribunal, dismissed the petitions of the candidates of the PDP, Mr Okhuarobo Henry, and that of APC Mr Crosby Eribo for lack of merits.

The tribunal held that the two petitioners could not prove a case of non-compliance with the electoral act, corrupt practices, and non-qualification allegations against the LP candidate in the election.

Delivering the judgement, Justice O.A. Chijioke held that the petitioners failed to prove their cases and thereby dismissed the petitions for lack of merit.

“We hold that the petitioners failed to prove any of the grounds raised in the petitions, and the petitions are hereby dismissed for lack of merits, ‘’ he said.

The petitioners, Henry and Eribo, had approached the tribunal to challenge the election of Osaro on the grounds that he was not qualified to contest for the election.

They claimed non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022, in the conduct of the election, as well as Osaro’s dual nationality, adding that the LP could not have had a candidate in the said election.

However, the Justice Chijioke led election panel resolved all the grounds and averred that the petitioners merely dumped documents on the tribunal without any probative value.

Eribo had alleged that the LP candidate was a citizen of the U.S., and his standing for election negated Section 77 of the Electoral Act, 2022, as well as Section 66 of the Constitution of Nigeria.

He also contended that Osaro was not validly nominated by the LP for the election, which by inference meant that the LP had no candidate in the election. (NAN)