Why Sen. Okpebholo May Be Disqualified Before The Election

A Magistrates' Court in Abuja has summoned Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2024 Edo elections, over allegations of age falsification. This development could potentially disqualify Okpebholo from the race, throwing his candidacy into uncertainty.

The suit, filed by a PDP chieftain, Honesty Aginbatse, on September 12, accuses the senator of discrepancies in his date of birth across various documents submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The discrepancies range from March 29, 1970, on his 2023 Senate nomination form, to August 29, 1970, in an age declaration form, and August 29, 1972, on his West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate. Moreover, another date of birth, August 1, 1977, was listed on his INEC voter card.

Sen. Okpebholo is charged with forgery and perjury, and is set to appear before Magistrate Abubakar Mukhtar on September 20. The case raises questions about his eligibility for the upcoming Edo governorship race, as Section 182.1 (d) of the Nigerian Constitution stipulates that a person convicted of dishonesty or fraud is disqualified from running for governor.

Should the court find him guilty, the senator's ambitions could be dashed, potentially altering the political landscape ahead of the 2024 elections.