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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Edo State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, yesterday, nullified the election of Hon. Destiny Enabulele of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Ovia South West Constituency, on the ground of non compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022 as amended.
Consequently, the Tribunal declared the APC candidate in the election, Hon. Sunday Aghedo, as the rightful winner of the election and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to withdraw the Certificate of Return earlier issued to Enabulele and issue same to Hon. Enabulele.
Recall that after the inconclusive election in Ovia South West Constituency and following the outcome of the April 15 rerun, INEC declared Enabulele winner of the election with total votes of 8,661 as against 7,946 votesscored by Aghedo.
Unsatisfied with INEC declaration, Aghedo and his party, the APC, filled their petition at the Tribunal to challenge the declaration, contending that there were irregularities, malpractices and non compliance with the electoral Act as well as over voting and invalid votes in the election.
The Tribunal Panel headed by Justice A. O Chijoke after perusing the documents submitted to it and listening to the arguments canvassed by parties in the litigation, deducted 1000 votes from the votes credited to Destiny Enabulele.
Justice Chijioke held that the deducted votes were invalid by way of corrupt practices, manipulation of figures and non compliance with the 2022 electoral Act.
Reacting to the judgement, the Counsel to Aghedo, Famous Osawaru, lauded the judgement, describing it as a win for democracy, just as he maintained that the petition was valid as the petitioners tendered all evidence and proved all allegations beyond reasonable doubts.
The Tribunal in another petition, upheld the election of Honorable Natasha Osawaru of the Peoples Democratic Party as the duly elected member representing Egor Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly.
The petitioner, Denrick Uhunwagho of the Labour Party, in his petition, alleged that the election was invalid and marred with electoral malpractices, which includes result manipulation, violence, and non compliance with provisions of the electoral Act 2022.
The Tribunal however dismissed the petition for lacking in merits, noting that the petitioners failed to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt.
