The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, has scheduled Wednesday for the delivery of its judgment in the case filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, challenging the results of the gubernatorial election held in the state on September 21, 2024.
The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, informed the parties of the judgment date early Tuesday morning. The panel had reserved its verdict on March 3, after all parties presented their final briefs of argument.
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 declared Okpebholo the victor with 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo, who received 247,655 votes.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, the PDP and Ighodalo approached the tribunal, claiming that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022. In petition number EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, they argued that Okpebholo did not secure the highest number of lawful votes.
Additionally, the petitioners claimed that INEC failed to serialize and pre-record certain sensitive materials used in the election, which they argued contributed to the rigging of the election in favor of the APC and its candidate.
During the adoption of their final written address on Monday, the petitioners, represented by a legal team led by Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN, accused the respondents of improper result computation in 765 polling units. They alleged that results from these units were manipulated at the collation centers.
The petitioners contended that they had presented sufficient evidence to support their case and called on the tribunal to annul the Certificate of Return issued to Governor Okpebholo and declare Ighodalo as the rightful winner of the election.
