Edo tribunal strikes off PDP’s name from petition

The Election Petitions Tribunal in Benin on Tuesday struck off the name of the Peoples Democratic Party from a petition filed by its governorship candidate Maj-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (retd.). Airhiavbere, in his petition, had named the PDP as the second petitioner in the petition challenging the emergence of Adams Oshiomhole of the Action Congress Party of Nigeria as governor in the July 14 governorship election in the state. Joined as co-respondents /defendants in the suit are Oshiomhole, ACN, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Resident Electoral Officer and the INEC returning officer. Counsel for the PDP, Kingsley Obamoge, after announcing his appearance, informed the tribunal that his client wished that its name be struck off from the petition. Obamoge said he had therefore filed a notice before the tribunal requesting the tribunal to strike off PDP’s name from the petition.