The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, is set to deliver its judgment today on the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, challenging the outcome of the September 21, 2024, gubernatorial election.
The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, communicated the judgment date to all parties involved yesterday, following the panel’s decision to reserve its verdict on March 3, after hearing the final arguments.
The PDP and Ighodalo are contesting the declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo, who polled 247,655 votes.
The petitioners argue that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, alleging irregularities and vote manipulation. They claim that INEC failed to properly serialize and pre-record some sensitive electoral materials, thereby enabling alleged rigging in favor of the APC candidate.
Leading the petitioners’ legal team, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Adetunji Oyeyipo, argued that there was a significant miscalculation of results in 765 polling units, including instances where votes were inflated at collation centers. He cited a particular case where 25 votes allegedly transformed into 525 votes, challenging the integrity of the result compilation.
The petitioners urged the tribunal to nullify Governor Okpebholo’s Certificate of Return and declare Ighodalo the rightful winner, insisting they presented sufficient evidence to substantiate their claims.
On the other hand, the respondents, including INEC, Governor Okpebholo, and the APC, have called for the dismissal of the petition, describing it as baseless and lacking in credible evidence.
INEC’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, noted that the reliefs sought by the petitioners were inconsistent with the substance of their case. Similarly, Governor Okpebholo’s lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, maintained that the petition amounted to an academic exercise, emphasizing that allegations of over-voting could not be proven without the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines.
APC’s counsel, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, argued that the petitioners failed to meet the legal burden of proof, urging the tribunal to dismiss the case in its entirety.
Ahead of the tribunal’s judgment, Governor Okpebholo has called for peace and unity among residents and supporters. In a message of hope, he urged political leaders and citizens to respect the rule of law and maintain calm, regardless of the outcome.
“We have witnessed a vibrant and competitive electoral process, and I respect the legal avenues available to all parties. The tribunal’s decision is a crucial part of our democratic process, and we must all respect its authority,” Governor Okpebholo said.
He further emphasized the importance of unity and progress in the state, urging everyone to avoid spreading misinformation and to demonstrate maturity and resilience in the face of the tribunal’s decision.
As the political atmosphere remains tense, all eyes are on the tribunal as it delivers a judgment that could potentially reshape the political landscape of Edo State.
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