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Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2024 Edo State gubernatorial elections, has been summoned to appear before an Abuja Magistrate Court over charges of forgery and perjury.
The charges, brought forward by Chief Honesty Aginbatse, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, stem from alleged discrepancies in Okpebholo’s birth dates across several official documents.
According to court records, Okpebholo’s 2023 Senate nomination form lists his birth date as March 29, 1970.
However, conflicting dates appear on his 2024 gubernatorial nomination forms: August 29, 1970, on an age declaration; August 29, 1972, on his West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate; and August 1, 1977, on his voter’s card.
These inconsistencies have sparked accusations of perjury and potential forgery.
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Chief Aginbatse, who filed the complaint, strongly criticised Okpebholo, saying, “Edo state cannot have characters of questionable character in public office. Sen. Okpebholo must come to tell the judge why he filed four different dates of birth under oath.”
What does the law say?
Under Section 182.1 (d) of the Nigerian Constitution, individuals convicted of offences involving dishonesty or fraud face disqualification from running for public office.
This development casts doubt on Okpebholo’s eligibility just days before the elections.
Attempts to reach Senator Okpebholo for comments were unsuccessful, and an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) official stated that the body would remain neutral but warned that the courts could disqualify candidates for falsifying documents.