Senator Monday Okpebholo faces legal scrutiny as Abuja court investigates alleged discrepancies in his age declaration.
In a notable development for the Edo gubernatorial election, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the APC candidate, has been summoned by the Chief Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory. The court’s action comes in response to allegations of age falsification, a serious charge that has emerged amid the heated election season.
The case, brought before the Court 17A in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, was filed by PDP chieftain Chief Honesty Aginbatse. The crux of the matter revolves around discrepancies in the birth dates listed on Okpebholo’s nomination forms submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Specifically, the accusations suggest that Okpebholo provided inconsistent birth dates across various official documents.
Documents from SaharaReporters reveal that while Okpebholo’s 2023 Senate nomination form lists his birth date as March 29, 1970, his 2024 governorship nomination affidavit contains conflicting dates. These include August 29, 1970 on an age declaration document, August 29, 1972 on his WAEC result, and August 1, 1977 on his INEC voter card.
The summons, dated September 12, 2024, orders Okpebholo to appear in court on September 20, just a day before the Edo State governorship election. The court document, signed by Magistrate Abubakar Mukhtar, instructs Okpebholo to present himself to answer charges of making false statements under oath.
The legal challenge underscores growing concerns about the integrity of candidates in the Edo gubernatorial race. As noted by SaharaReporters, if the court finds Okpebholo guilty of these charges, it could have significant implications for his eligibility under Section 182.1 (d) of the Nigerian Constitution, which disqualifies individuals convicted of dishonesty from holding the office of governor.
The outcome of this case could impact the broader election landscape, as the court’s ruling might affect public perception and the legitimacy of the gubernatorial candidates.
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