The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, has upheld the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), dismissing the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asuerinme Ighodalo.
In a unanimous verdict delivered on Wednesday, the three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, ruled that the petitioners failed to provide credible evidence to nullify the outcome of the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Okpebholo the winner after securing 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo, who garnered 247,655 votes.
However, dissatisfied with the result, Ighodalo and the PDP challenged the declaration, alleging electoral malpractices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
The petitioners claimed that the election was marred by irregularities, including the wrong computation of results in 765 polling units, over-voting, and the failure of INEC to pre-record and serialize sensitive election materials. They also presented 19 witnesses and tendered 153 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines used in 133 polling units as evidence.
Despite these claims, the tribunal ruled that the petitioners merely “dumped exhibits” without properly demonstrating how they affected the outcome of the election. It held that most of the witnesses provided hearsay evidence, failing to bring polling unit agents, presiding officers, or accredited voters to substantiate their allegations.
The panel further dismissed claims of over-voting, stating that none of the BVAS machines tendered in evidence were switched on to verify that votes recorded exceeded the number of accredited voters.
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Additionally, it struck out new facts introduced in the petitioners’ reply that were not contained in their original case.
The tribunal emphasized that even if the votes Ighodalo challenged were deducted, Okpebholo would still emerge victorious.
Reacting to the verdict, Ighodalo, through his legal team, vowed to take the case to the Court of Appeal, expressing confidence that justice would be served.
With the tribunal’s ruling solidifying Okpebholo’s mandate, attention now shifts to the appellate court, where Ighodalo hopes to overturn the decision.