Appeal court upholds election of Edo governor

The court of appeal sitting in Benin, Edo, on Friday, validated the election of Godwin Obaseki as governor of the state.

Ize Iyamu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 2016 governorship election, had challenged Obaseki’s victory at the polls.

Ruling on the matter, Monica Dongba-Mensen, president of the panel, said that the appeal lacked merit because the election could not be invalidated on the allegation that the judges at the tribunal compromised their duties.

Dongba-Mensen also dismissed claims that the PDP and its candidates were not given ample time to carry out their vote recount, which exceeded the 14 days allowed by law.

The appeal of Ize Iyamu was therefore thrown out by the court.

Obaseki contested the governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).