Election Tribunal Denies Obaseki’s Request To Strike Out Ize-iyamu, APC From ADP Petition

By Okhide Em’ya David 

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki’s motion seeking to strike out the names of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and the All Progressives Party (APC), from the petition filed by the Action Democratic Party (ADP),  has suffered a setback at the Edo State Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Benin City.

The tribunal also declined to strike out ADP’s petition against Governor Obaseki, insisting it would hear it on its merit as against the request of the governor.

The petition of the ADP and its governorship candidate obtained by Abuja Guardian is with reference number: EPT/ED/GOV/01/2020, with INEC, PDP, Obaseki, APC and its governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, as respondents. 

The party prayed the tribunal to disqualify Obaseki over his first degree certificate from the University of Ibadan and nullify the votes cast for him, and thereby order INEC to conduct a fresh election involving all other qualified governorship candidates, excluding PDP and Obaseki.

The tribunal had in a short ruling on Tuesday declined Governor Obaseki’s request in the case challenging his qualifications to contest the September 19th governorship election in the state.

At the resumed hearing in the petition N0. EPT/ED/GOV/01/2020, Action Democratic Party & Anor v. Independent National Electoral Commission & Ors, the tribunal ruled on two separate motions filed by INEC and PDP, seeking to strike the petition of ADP against Governor Obaseki and strike out the names of APC and its candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu .

 The court rejected their motions and refused to strike out the petition and the names of APC and Ize-Iyamu.