Edo Tribunal
The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, declined to nullify the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Three-member panel of the Edo Tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, ruled unanimously against the petition filed by the Accord Party (AP) and its gubernatorial candidate, stating that the petitioners failed to prove their allegations.
The tribunal also refused to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh governorship election in Edo State, affirming that the petitioners could not substantiate their claims of electoral malpractice and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
According to the panel, while the petitioners alleged that the September 21, 2024, election was marred by corrupt practices and irregularities, they did not provide credible evidence to support their claims. The tribunal noted that the allegations lacked specificity, as the petitioners did not identify particular polling units or wards where the purported electoral misconduct occurred.
Describing some of the claims in the petition as vague, the tribunal held that the petitioners failed to prove that Governor Okpebholo’s victory was unlawfully obtained. The panel emphasized that allegations of widespread rigging, multiple thumbprinting, and voter intimidation were not backed by verifiable facts.
Furthermore, the Edo tribunal upheld all the preliminary objections filed to challenge the petition’s competence. It ruled that the case was legally deficient and could not be entertained. The tribunal, therefore, struck out the petition for lacking merit.
INEC had declared that Governor Okpebholo of the APC secured a total of 291,667 votes to defeat his closest rival, Asuerinme Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 247,655 votes. The Accord Party’s candidate trailed far behind with just 252 votes.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, the AP and its candidate approached the tribunal, arguing that the election was characterized by malpractices, including alleged failure to use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in several polling units. They also cited incidents of violence and voter intimidation, claiming these irregularities affected the credibility of the election.
However, the tribunal maintained that the petitioners did not present substantial evidence to prove their allegations. It stated that merely making accusations without concrete proof was insufficient to overturn an election.
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The panel’s ruling follows an earlier decision to dismiss a separate petition filed by the Action Alliance (AA), which also sought to nullify Governor Okpebholo’s election. With both petitions struck out, the tribunal is now set to deliberate on a joint petition filed by the PDP and its candidate, Ighodalo, who is contesting the election’s validity and seeking to be declared the rightful winner.
Governor Okpebholo’s legal team welcomed the tribunal’s decision, describing it as a victory for democracy and the rule of law. They asserted that the governor’s victory was a reflection of the people’s will and that the election was conducted in line with legal requirements.
Meanwhile, supporters of the Accord Party and its candidate expressed disappointment with the ruling, insisting that the election was flawed. They hinted at the possibility of seeking redress at the Court of Appeal.
