By Gabriel Enogholase

BENIN—THE National and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunal headed by Justice E. O. Abua,  sitting in Benin City, yesterday struck out two petitions filed by candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Martins Erhabor and the All Progressive Congress, APC, Henry Osobase, for the Edo State House of Assembly

The PDP candidate is challenging the election of Nosayaba Okunbor of the APC, representing Orhionmwon East constituency, while Osobase is contesting the election of Igbas Ezehi of the PDP representing Esan North East 1 constituency.

In its judgment, the three-man tribunal unanimously dismissed the petition filed by Mr. Erhabor as lacking in merit.

It held that evidences of the witnesses were hearsay, not cogent and unreliable.

Justice Abua, who read the lead judgment, said the petitioner’s claim that the election was not in compliance with the Electoral Act was null and void.

On the petition filed against the election of Igbas of the PDP, the tribunal held that there was no evidence to prove allegation of electoral malpractice.

The tribunal struck out the petition for incompetence and awarded N50, 000 cost against the petitioner.