Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress’s nominee for governor of Edo in 2024, has been called by an Abuja magistrates court to appear before it on accusations of age falsification.
He faces accusations of deception and forgery.
PDP Chieftain Honesty Aginbatse filed a lawsuit on September 12 alleging differences in the dates of birth on Okpebholo’s candidacy documents that were turned in to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
On September 20, Sen. Okpebholo is scheduled to appear before Magistrate Abubakar Mukhtar.
Aginbatse claimed that Okpebholo’s birthdate of March 29, 1970, was mentioned on his 2023 Senate nomination form.
He continued by saying that August 29, 1970, was mentioned in an age declaration form on Okpebholo’s 2024 governorship nomination forms, whereas August 29, 1972, was mentioned on his West African Examination Council, or WAEC, certificate.
Aginbatse further claimed that Okpebholo’s INEC voter card listed his birthdate as August 1, 1977.
He cited Section 182.1(d) of the Nigerian Constitution, which states that a conviction for crimes involving dishonesty or fraud bars a person from seeking governor, casting doubt on Okpebholo’s eligibility in the event of a conviction.
