Tribunal Dismisses Igbenedion Petition

 -Tribunal dismisses Petition filed by Barr. Igbenedion for lack of merit.

The National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Benin City has dismissed the petition filed by Barr Omosede Igbinedion for lack of merit.

Barr. Igbinedion challenged the victory of Hon Dennis Idahosa who was declared winner of the Ovia Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.

She had earlier asked the tribunal to declare her winner of the election on grounds that Idahosa was not qualified to contest the election being a Canadian citizen and did not resign his appointment with the Federal Ministry of Environment.

Chairman of the tribunal, Justice O. Ogundana said that Omosede failed to prove allegations of over voting, forgery and falsification of results.

On allegations of being a Canadian citizen, the tribunal held that the petitioners failed to show any prove of the allegation as the witness called did not testify regarding the allegation.

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The tribunal ruled that Idahosa proved that he is a Nigerian by birth by presenting his International Passport and proved that he resigned his appointment as a board member of the National Agency for Great Green Wall (NAGW).

According to the tribunal: “The argument of the petitioners is most untenable. They did not show relevant documents and pleaded facts are not before the tribunal.

“Aside the pleading of the grounds, the petitioners did not place anything on their side. They did not made prima facie case. Averments in petition prove nothing without evidence. The onus of prove has not shifted to the defendants.

“The petitioners failed to prove non-qualification.”

“All these allegations have not been proven. Even if ground three has not been struck out, it would not have survived.”