Tension mounts as Edo governorship tribunal delivers judgment today

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, is set to deliver its judgment today in the case filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, challenging the outcome of the September 21, 2024, gubernatorial election.

The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, informed the parties of the judgment date yesterday.

This followed the conclusion of hearings on March 3, when all parties adopted their final arguments.

PDP and Ighodalo are contesting the declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced that Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo, who garnered 247,655 votes.

Unhappy with the results, the PDP and its candidate approached the tribunal, arguing that the election did not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022. Their petition (EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024) claims that Okpebholo did not receive the highest number of lawful votes.

They also alleged that INEC failed to properly serialize and pre-record sensitive election materials, which, they argue, led to manipulation in favor of the APC.

During the final arguments on Monday, the petitioners’ lead counsel, Adetunji Oyeyipo (SAN), claimed that there were discrepancies in vote calculations across 765 polling units.

He cited instances where figures allegedly changed significantly during collation.

“We accept that elections took place at polling units, but how 25 votes turned into 525 at a collation center is what we are challenging,” Oyeyipo argued.

The petitioners insist they have presented sufficient evidence to prove their case and have asked the tribunal to nullify Governor Okpebholo’s Certificate of Return and declare Ighodalo as the rightful winner.

However, the respondents—INEC, Governor Okpebholo, and the APC—have urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition, calling it baseless.

INEC’s counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), argued that the petitioners’ claims were contradictory, as they questioned the election’s validity while simultaneously asking to be declared the winners.

Governor Okpebholo’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), described the petition as a mere academic exercise, citing a Supreme Court ruling that over-voting cannot be proven without Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) data.

Similarly, APC’s counsel, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), stated that the petitioners failed to meet the legal burden of proof.

Ahead of the tribunal’s judgment, Governor Okpebholo has called for calm, urging party supporters and residents to respect the legal process.

“We have gone through a competitive election, and I respect the legal avenues available to all parties. The tribunal’s decision is a critical part of our democracy, and we must honor it,” he said.

He emphasized the need for unity and warned against political violence or misinformation, stating, “Our state’s progress and development remain our priority. We must not allow political differences to disrupt the peace we have built.”

Governor Okpebholo expressed confidence in the judiciary and the people’s commitment to democracy, urging everyone to uphold peace and order as the tribunal delivers its verdict.