Edo election tribunal receives 2 petitions, says secretary

Petitions
Benin, April 29, 2015 (NAN) The Edo Election Petition Tribunal on Wednesday said it received only two petitions arising from the conduct of the March 28 National Assembly (NASS) elections in the state.

The secretary to the tribunal, Mr Mukhtar Bello, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin that the petitions were that of House of Representatives and the Senate.

He said that deadline for submission of the NASS election petitions was May 3.

Bello said the submitted petitions were that of Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency and Edo Central Senatorial district respectively.

The tribunal secretary said the House of Representatives petition was filed by Mr Oladele Balogun of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who was challenging the election of Mr Peter Akpatason of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to the petition, Balogun claimed that Akpatason was not validly elected or returned as the candidate representing Akoko-Edo federal constituency.

It said that Akpatason election was invalid by reason of corrupt practices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

The petitioner claimed that Akpatason was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the election conducted on March 28.

It would be recalled that the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Akpatason elected having scored a total vote of 19,006 against Balogun’s 16, 680.

Similarly, the APC senatorial candidate for the Edo Central senatorial district, Chief Francis Inegbeneki was challenging the victory of Mr Clifford Ordia of the PDP at the poll.

Meanwhile, the tribunal secretary said submission of petitions for the State House of Assembly was still opened.