A Magistrates’ Court in Abuja has summoned Sen. Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Edo governorship election scheduled for September 21, 2024, to address allegations of age falsification.
Magistrate Abubakar Mukthar has ordered Okpebholo to appear in court on September 20, the day before the election, to respond to charges of forgery and perjury.
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This summons follows a petition submitted by PDP Chieftain Honesty Aginbatse on September 12. Aginbatse’s petition highlights inconsistencies in the birth dates listed on the nomination forms Okpebholo submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Aginbatse points out that Okpebholo’s 2023 Senate nomination form lists his birth date as March 29, 1970. However, Okpebholo’s 2024 governorship nomination forms indicate a birth date of August 29, 1970 on an age declaration form and August 29, 1972 on his West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate. Additionally, Okpebholo’s INEC voter card shows August 1, 1977 as his birth date.
Aginbatse argues that under Section 182.1 (d) of the Nigerian Constitution, a conviction for offenses involving dishonesty or fraud could disqualify a candidate from running for governor, raising concerns about Okpebholo’s eligibility if the allegations are proven true.
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