The Edo Tribunal has confirmed Okpebholo’s victory, dismissing the petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo. The tribunal ruled that the petitioners failed to provide solid evidence to back their claims of over-voting and election irregularities. With this ruling, Okpebholo’s election victory remains valid.
Edo Tribunal Rules in Favor of Okpebholo
In its judgment, the Edo Tribunal confirmed Okpebholo’s victory, stating that the PDP and Ighodalo could not prove their allegations beyond doubt. The three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, faulted the petitioners for presenting weak and unconvincing evidence.
The PDP had alleged vote manipulation in 765 polling units and presented screenshots from BVAS machines as evidence. However, the tribunal ruled that screenshots were insufficient proof, emphasizing that “to prove over-voting, you need the Voter Register, BVAS machines, and Form EC8A.”
Furthermore, the tribunal declared that even if the disputed votes were removed, Okpebholo would still have won the election, reinforcing the legitimacy of his victory.
Okpebholo’s Election Victory Stands as PDP Loses Tribunal Case
INEC had initially declared Monday Okpebholo as the winner of the September 21 election with 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo, who secured 247,655 votes. Dissatisfied with the outcome, the PDP challenged Okpebholo’s victory at the Edo Tribunal, citing election irregularities.
However, the tribunal ruled that their claims lacked sufficient proof, as the petitioners failed to provide strong evidence linking INEC to any wrongdoing. The panel also noted that the PDP relied too heavily on hearsay witnesses rather than firsthand accounts.
Despite this setback, Ighodalo’s legal team has vowed to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal, hoping to overturn the tribunal’s decision. However, for now, the Edo Tribunal has confirmed Okpebholo’s victory, solidifying his position as the duly elected Governor of Edo State.
