Edo Election: Obaseki, Shaibu receive certificates of return as tribunal opens

Godwin Obaseki, governor and governor-elect of Edo State, has received his certificate of return.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued him the document on Tuesday in Benin City, the state capital.

His deputy, Philip Shaibu, also received his certificate of return.

Mr Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared winner of the Saturday governorship election where he polled over 307,000 votes to trounced his major opponent, Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) who came second with over 220,000 votes.

Meanwhile, the state election tribunal has opened to receive petitions of those dissatisfied with the outcome of the weekend exercise. They have 21 days to file in their petition.

A statement by the Secretary of the tribunal, Mr. Sunday Martins, on Tuesday, announced that the High Court Complex in Benin, the Edo State capital, had been designated as the venue of the exercise.

“The general public is hereby put on notice that the Honourable President of Court of Appeal of Nigeria Hon. Justice M. B Dongban Mensem has established the Election Petition Tribunal Secretariat and accordingly constituted a panel in respect of the Governorship Election conducted in Edo State,” it read.

“The Honorable Chief Judge of the State-Hon. Justice E. A. Edigin has graciously approved the use of High Court Complex (Election Petition Court Hall), Sapele Road, Benin City for the Tribunal Exercise. The Secretariat is now open,” the statement added.