The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has reserved judgment on the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, challenging the September 21, 2024 governorship election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner.
PDP’s Allegations Against INEC and APC
Ighodalo’s legal team argues that the election should be nullified due to electoral irregularities. The petitioners claim: Over-voting occurred, backed by 154 BVAS machines presented as evidence, non-serialization of ballots and incorrect collation of figures affected the outcome, erroneous computation of scores altered the final results.
The petition, marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, lists INEC, Okpebholo, and APC as the first, second, and third respondents.
INEC and APC Defend Election Results
INEC, represented by Kanu Agabi (SAN), did not present any witnesses, arguing that the election was properly conducted. Okpebholo’s legal team, led by Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), maintained that the petitioners lacked substantial evidence to overturn the election.
APC’s lead counsel, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), also dismissed the claims, noting that the petitioners only called five polling unit agents from over 4,000 polling units in Edo State.
Meanwhile, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, leading the three-member tribunal, stated:
“A date for judgment will be communicated to the parties by the tribunal secretary.”
What Happens Next?
The tribunal’s verdict will determine whether the September 2024 Edo State election stands or is nullified. If the PDP proves its case, the court may order a rerun or declare Ighodalo the winner. However, legal experts believe the petitioners face an uphill battle, given the Supreme Court’s strict requirements for proving electoral fraud.
Follow Federal Character News to stay updated on the Edo State governorship election tribunal for the final judgment.
