The Edo State Elections Petitions Tribunal on Wednesday said it had received only two petitions arising from the conduct of the March 28 National Assembly elections in the state.
The Secretary to the tribunal, Mukhtar Bello, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Benin that the petitions were that of House of Representatives and the Senate.
Bello said deadline for submission of the National Assembly elections petitions was May 3.
Bello said the submitted petitions were that of Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency and Edo Central Senatorial District.
The tribunal secretary said the House of Representatives petition was filed by Oladele Balogun of the Peoples Democratic Party, who was challenging the election of Peter Akpatason of the All Progressives Congress.
According to the petition, Balogun claimed that Akpatason was not validly elected or returned as the candidate representing Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency.
It said Akpatason’s election was invalid by reason of corrupt practices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).
The petitioner claimed that Akpatason was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the election conducted on March 28.
It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Akpatason elected having scored a total vote of 19,006 votes against Balogun’s 16,680.
Similarly, the APC senatorial candidate for the Edo Central Senatorial District, Chief Francis Inegbeneki, is challenging the victory of Clifford Ordia of the PDP at the poll.
Meanwhile, Bello said submission of petitions for the state House of Assembly election was still open.