Edo APC Guber Candidate Okpebholo Allegedly Submits Forged Birth Certificate to INEC

Documents have surfaced indicating that Senator Monday Okpebholo, the governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, submitted a forged birth certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The allegations reveal discrepancies in the dates of birth he provided in his Form EC-9 (affidavit of personal particulars) as part of his candidacy for the upcoming September 21, 2024, gubernatorial election.

In his sworn affidavit submitted on March 24, 2024, Mr. Okpebholo claimed his birth date was August 29, 1970, corroborated by a statutory declaration from his brother, Ojeifo Joseph Okpebholo. However, his West African School Certificate (WASC) results from 2008, also submitted to INEC, listed his birth date as August 29, 1972. Additionally, Mr. Okpebholo’s voter registration profile on the INEC portal showed his birth date as August 1, 1977.

The conflicting information has raised legal concerns, as Section 29 (6) of the Electoral Act 2022 stipulates that providing false information in an affidavit can disqualify a candidate and their political party from election participation. Should a disqualification occur after the election, the candidate with the second-highest number of valid votes would be declared the winner.

These revelations have caused unrest within the APC leadership. Notable figures like former Edo Governor Adams Oshiomhole and APC deputy gubernatorial candidate Dennis Idahosa have urged Mr. Okpebholo to withdraw from the race, allowing the party to nominate a replacement candidate before the election. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also deemed Mr. Okpebholo ineligible to run due to the falsifications, a common issue in Nigerian politics.

An INEC official from Edo State mentioned that the August 1, 1977, date from Mr. Okpebholo’s voter registration might be accurate, as it aligns with his first name, Monday. However, the official emphasized that INEC must remain neutral, leaving any aggrieved parties to seek legal recourse.

Mr. Okpebholo and an INEC spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.