The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2024 Edo State Governorship Election, Asue Ighodalo, has opened his case at the election tribunal, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of manipulating results in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Governor Monday Okpebholo. Ighodalo insists he secured the highest number of valid votes but was denied victory due to INEC’s alleged noncompliance with the Electoral Act, 2022. His legal team, led by Adetunji Oyeyipo (SAN), submitted several Certified True Copies (CTCs) of election documents, including Form EC8E (INEC’s final result declaration sheet) and Form EC8D (summary of results from Local Government collation), as evidence of the irregularities.
INEC and APC Legal Teams Object to Evidence
In a predictable turn of events, INEC and Okpebholo’s legal representatives, Kanu Agabi (SAN), Onyeachi Ikpeazu (SAN), and D.C. Denwigwe (SAN), swiftly objected to the admissibility of the evidence presented. Their objections, however, didn’t stop the presiding judge, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, from admitting the documents provisionally. “Learned counsel to the respondents shall state their reasons for their objections at the address stage,” Kpochi ruled. This seems like a calculated delay tactic, but the tribunal is set to continue hearing the case with more evidence expected from the PDP.
Battle for Edo: Tribunal to Decide the People’s Will
Ighodalo’s case (marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024) directly challenges INEC’s declaration of Okpebholo as the winner, exposing deep cracks in Nigeria’s electoral process. The tribunal’s next sitting on Saturday promises more revelations, as the PDP is set to present additional evidence.
Ighodalo’s challenge not only speaks alot about electoral transparency in Edo State but also puts INEC under scrutiny for its handling of the election. The tribunal’s verdict could have far-reaching consequences for both the PDP and APC in Edo politics.
