A Magistrates’ Court in Abuja has summoned Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate for the 2024 Edo elections, to appear before it over alleged age falsification.
The suit filed by a PDP Chieftain, Honesty Aginbatse, on Sept 12 alleged discrepancies in the birth dates provided in the nomination forms Okpebholo submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Aginbatse alleged that Okpebholo’s 2023 Senate nomination and his governorship nomination forms listed his birth date as March 29, 1970, while Aug. 29, 1972, was listed on his West African Examination Council, WAEC certificate and Aug. 1, 1977, is on his INEC voter card.
He stated that Under Section 182.1 (d) of the Nigerian Constitution, a conviction for offences involving dishonesty or fraud disqualifies a person from running for governor, raising questions about Okpebholo’s eligibility if convicted.
Okpebholo is to appear before Magistrate Abubakar Mukhtar on Sept 20, charged with forgery and perjury.
Dp/Ayo
