By Eben Enasco Kingsley
The Justice Ahmed Badamasi Led Edo State governorship election tribunal on Friday in Benin City dismissed the petitions filed by the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, Pastor Osagie Ize- Iyamu contesting the victory of the 2016 governorship election of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Godwin Obaseki reaffirming him as the winner of the election in the state.
The PDP Candidate, Pastor Osazie Ize-Iyamu,had earlier filed a suit on September 28, 2016 challenging the declaration of Governor Godwin Obaseki as winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Petition which was filed on October 19, 2016 with the first petitioner asking to be declared winner, having polled the highest number of lawful votes casted sitting electoral fraud allegedly perpetrated by the ruling party,APC.
Reading the judgement, Justice Badamosi struck out the 3rd respondent’s (APC) prayer to dismiss the petitioner’s case.
The justice also struck out the motion by PDP and Ize-Iyamu that both APC and Obaseki are one.
The three man tribunal also refused to answer the prayer of Obaseki to dismiss the Petition of the PDP candidate and PDP on the fact that INEC did not recognize the name Andrew added to Ize-Iyamu’s.
Continuing, Justice Badamasi also dismissed the allegation and argument of the petitioner that there was over voting and improper accreditation, it as misleading.
He however declared Mr. Godwin Obaseki the winner of the Election.
