The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, has officially reserved judgment in the petition filed by Dr. Asue Ighodalo and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the victory of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 2024 election.
Presiding Judge, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, announced that a date for the final ruling would be communicated to all involved parties following the adoption of final arguments.
The PDP has alleged electoral irregularities in 765 polling units, calling for the annulment of the election results. Their lead counsel, Ken Mozia, SAN, argued that inconsistencies in the collation process had compromised the integrity of the results, pointing specifically to alleged alterations of polling unit figures at the ward and local government levels.
Countering the petition, INEC’s legal representative, Kanu Agabi, SAN, asserted that the case lacked merit. He emphasized that the PDP had failed to present alternative election results to substantiate its claims. Agabi also pointed out that the Supreme Court had ruled BVAS machines unreliable as primary evidence in electoral disputes.
APC’s counsel, Emmanuel Okala, SAN, dismissed the case as unproven, highlighting that only five polling unit agents testified out of more than 4,000 polling units across Edo State. Similarly, Governor Okpebholo’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, argued that the PDP’s documents were not adequately demonstrated in court, rendering the petition unsubstantial.
APC’s Perspective: Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North Senatorial District, criticized the PDP’s petition, stating that electoral complaints must be supported by verifiable evidence. He argued that merely submitting documents without proper demonstration was insufficient to challenge an election outcome.
PDP’s Standpoint: On the other hand, PDP’s legal counsel, Ogbedei Esebor, expressed confidence in the petitioners’ case. Addressing journalists, he asserted that the PDP had successfully demonstrated discrepancies in score collation and instances of over-voting, strengthening their argument for election annulment.
With all arguments concluded, the tribunal’s final decision is highly anticipated. The judgment date is expected to be announced in due course, potentially setting the stage for a major political showdown in Edo State.
