A Wuse Magistrate Court sitting in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, presided over by Mr Abubakar Mukhtar, has summoned Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the 21 September 2024 election, Monday Okpebholo, to appear before it on 20 September for allegedly making a false statement on oath.
The suit, filed by a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Honesty Aginbatse, on 12 September alleged discrepancies in the birth dates provided in the nomination forms Senator Okpebholo submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Aginbatse alleged that Senator Okpebholo’s 2023 Senate Nomination Form listed his birth date as 29 March 1970.
He stated that, however, Senator Okpebholo‘s 2024 governorship Nomination Form contained 29 August 1970, an age declaration form and 29 August 1972 on his West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate.
Aginbatse also alleged that Senator Okpebholo had 1st August 1977 as his date of birth on his INEC voter card.
He stated that under Section 182.1 (d) of the Nigerian Constitution, a conviction for offences involving dishonesty or fraud disqualifies a person from running for governor, raising questions about Senator Okpebholo’s eligibility if convicted.
Eighteen-Eleven Media