The Edo Election Petition Tribunal has granted an ‘ex-parte motion’ filed by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The tribunal granted the motion on Wednesday in Benin City, the Edo State capital for the use of substitute service for respondents, Mr Godwin Obaseki and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Counsel to the petitioner, Kingsley Obamogie, said the order was necessary to fast track proceedings, claiming that the APC was trying to frustrate the entire court process.
The APC Publicity Secretary in Edo State, Godwin Erahon, however, denied any wrongdoing by his party.
The court motion follows the victory of Mr Obaseki in the September 29 Edo State governorship election in south-south Nigeria.
But on the day of the election, the PDP had claimed there was a plan by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and incumbent Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, to rig the election at the collation centre.
In a swift response, INEC National Commissioner in charge of Voter Education and Publicity, Solomon Soyebi, told Channels Television in Kaduna that the election was not flawed with irregularities as alleged.
He debunked claims by the PDP that the commission deliberately delayed result of the election from the 18 local government councils in Edo State in order to favour the ruling APC in the state.
After INEC had declared Obaseki as the Edo State Governor-elect, the PDP and its candidate proceeded to the tribunal to challenge the results of the poll.
