In a landmark ruling, an Abuja Magistrate Court has disqualified Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the upcoming Edo State Governorship Election, scheduled for September 21, 2024. The court, presided over by His Worship Abubakar Mukhtar, found Okpebholo guilty of submitting falsified documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to meet the qualifications for the election.
The case, Honesty Aginbatse vs. Monday Okpebholo & 2 Others, was brought forward by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Honesty Aginbatse, who accused Okpebholo of age falsification and forgery. According to the court’s judgment, Okpebholo’s actions amounted to criminal misconduct, which unfairly skewed the electoral process and violated the rights of other contenders.
In his ruling, Magistrate Mukhtar stated, “The first defendant (Monday Okpebholo) supplied false and forged documents to the third defendant (INEC) to aid his qualification for the governorship election. This constitutes a criminal offence, and as such, the first defendant is disqualified from participating in the race.”
The verdict also bars Okpebholo from any involvement in the forthcoming election, leaving the APC without a candidate just days before the polls. This sudden disqualification is expected to have a significant impact on the political dynamics in Edo State, with voters and party officials scrambling to assess the implications.
The disqualification comes amid mounting legal troubles for Okpebholo, who has been facing multiple allegations of forgery and perjury. His disqualification opens the door for new discussions within the APC about leadership, as well as renewed momentum for Aginbatse and the PDP ahead of the critical election.
As the Edo governorship race continues to heat up, this ruling has raised questions about the integrity of candidates and the lengths some are willing to go in order to gain political power. With just a day remaining before the election, Edo voters now face an altered playing field that could reshape the future of their state.
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Stay tuned for further developments. #Edo2024
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