A Magistrates’ Court in Abuja has summoned Sen. Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Edo governorship election on September 21, 2024, to address claims of age falsification.

Magistrate Abubakar Mukthar directed Okpebholo to appear in court on September 20, one day before the election, to respond to allegations of forgery and perjury.

This summons follows a petition filed by PDP Chieftain Honesty Aginbatse on September 12. Aginbatse’s petition points out discrepancies in the birth dates listed on the nomination forms Okpebholo submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to Aginbatse, Okpebholo’s 2023 Senate nomination form listed his birth date as March 29, 1970. However, Okpebholo’s 2024 governorship nomination forms show a birth date of August 29, 1970 on an age declaration form and August 29, 1972 on his West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate.

Additionally, Aginbatse noted that Okpebholo’s INEC voter card lists August 1, 1977 as his date of birth.

Aginbatse argued that under Section 182.1 (d) of the Nigerian Constitution, a conviction for offenses involving dishonesty or fraud would disqualify a person from running for governor, raising concerns about Okpebholo’s eligibility if found guilty.

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