The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja on Wednesday, April 2, dismissed a petition seeking to nullify the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, also rejected calls for a fresh governorship election in the state, ruling that the petitioners—the Accord Party (AP) and its candidate—failed to provide sufficient evidence to support their claims.
The tribunal noted that while the petitioners alleged widespread rigging and non-compliance with the Electoral Act in the September 21, 2024 election, they failed to specify affected polling units or present credible evidence.
Describing the allegations as “general and sweeping,” the panel ruled that the claims of electoral malpractice were unsubstantiated. It also upheld preliminary objections challenging the competence of the petition.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Okpebholo winner with 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Asuerinme Ighodalo, who polled 247,655 votes. The AP candidate secured just 252 votes.
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Dissatisfied, the AP and its candidate petitioned the tribunal, citing alleged irregularities such as multiple thumbprinting, voter intimidation, and the failure to use Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines.
However, the tribunal ruled that the petition lacked merit and disclosed no reasonable cause of action.
Earlier, the panel had also dismissed a similar petition filed by the Action Alliance (AA) against Okpebholo’s victory.
With both cases concluded, the tribunal is now set to rule on the petition filed by the PDP and Ighodalo, who are seeking to be declared the rightful winners of the election.