Edo Guber: No Court Disqualified Okpebholo – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) said no court has disqualified its governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo, from the Edo election of Saturday, September 21.

The party in a statement issued on Friday evening by its spokesman Felix Morka described the report as fake news.

But across the state, there are reports that the APC candidate has been disqualified by an Abuja Magistrate Court with jubilations in some places ahead of the election.

Some groups of people were seen celebrating at Ring Road while others were beating drums close to the Oredo LG headquarters when they heard the court had disqualified Okpebholo.

A report allegedly said to be a ruling which disqualified Okpehbolo in circulation said the magistrate disqualified him over age falsification.

However, the APC shared a statement purportedly signed by his worship Abubakar Mukhtar of the Magistrate Court Abuja cited case No.: CR/WZ2/816/2024 declaring that “the general public be informed that the story circulating regarding the purported disqualification of Senator Monday Okpebholo from the Edo State Governorship Election due to age falsification and forgery is entirely FALSE and MISLEADING.”

The notice of denial said, “NO JUDGMENT has been delivered in this Court today, and no verdict has been reached in the above-mentioned case.

“The allegations of age falsification and forgery against Okpebholo are currently under investigation, and the defendant was summoned to appear before this Court. The matter remains pending.”

The APC in its statement said, “In the final hours to the Edo State Gubernatorial Election scheduled to be held tomorrow Saturday, September 21, 2024, certain political parties have desperately resorted to forgery, disinformation and blackmail by circulating a FAKE Magistrate court ruling purportedly disqualifying Senator Monday Okpebholo, the APC Gubernatorial Candidate in the election.”

It said, “The circulated RULING IS FAKE, a FABRICATION and an act of pure desperation in the face of their imminent defeat at the polls. The Magistrate Court that purportedly issued the FAKE RULING has issued a disclaimer stating categorically that the FAKE RULING did not emanate from that court.

“The FAKE NEWS meant to sow seeds of doubt about the APC candidate is a blatant and calculated attempt to subvert the will of the Edo electorate and must be thoroughly rejected by the good and discerning people of Edo State.

“This illegal and underhand tactic of the parties involved constitutes a despicable attack on our electoral democracy. We call on our law enforcement agencies to identify, investigate and bring the perpetrators swiftly to justice.”

The party urged “voters in Edo State to remain vigilant and resolute in the exercise of their democratic rights at tomorrow’s polls. We trust that the Edo people will reject this and other illegal devices by desperate candidates and their parties to subvert this important election.

“Senator Monday Okpebholo is, and remains, the standard bearer of the APC in tomorrow’s Edo State Gubernatorial Election,” APC said.