Edo Election Verdict: Tribunal Decides on PDP, Ighodalo’s Appeal Against APC and Gov. Okpebholo
The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal is set to deliver its judgment on Wednesday, following the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, challenging the results of the September 21, 2024, governorship election in the state.
The PDP and Ighodalo are contesting the declaration of Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). They claim that the election was marred by several irregularities.
Key Details of the Petition
The tribunal, which is made up of three members, with Wilfred Kpochi as the head, reserved its judgment on March 3 after all parties had submitted their final written addresses. The tribunal will rule on three separate petitions related to the election, which are marked: EPT/ED/GOV/01/2024, EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, and EPT/ED/GOV/03/2024.
As part of the proceedings, 148 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, used during the disputed election, were admitted as evidence. These machines were tendered by Anthony Itodo, a Senior Technical Officer from INEC’s ICT Department. The petitioners had subpoenaed INEC to produce the BVAS machines from 133 polling units where election results are in dispute.
The Disputed Election Results
INEC declared that Okpebholo of the APC won the election with a total of 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo of the PDP, who secured 247,655 votes. Dissatisfied with the outcome, the PDP and Ighodalo approached the tribunal, seeking to have INEC’s declaration of Okpebholo as the winner nullified.
The petitioners argue that the election was invalid due to alleged violations of the Electoral Act, 2022, including non-compliance with key provisions of the law.
APC’s Response
In defense, APC and Okpebholo have asked the tribunal to dismiss the petitions, describing them as baseless. They argue that the petitioners have failed to provide sufficient evidence to support their allegations of irregularities.
What’s Next?
As the tribunal prepares to deliver its verdict, all eyes will be on the decision, which could have significant implications for the future of the Edo State governorship race. The judgment will not only determine whether Okpebholo’s victory stands but could also set a precedent for how similar election petitions are handled in the future.
Stay tuned as we await the tribunal’s final ruling on this crucial case.
