High Stakes In Edo: Anxiety Looms As Tribunal Decides On Okpebholo’s Governorship

The three-member tribunal, chaired by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, informed the parties of the judgment date on Tuesday after previously reserving its decision on March 3, following the adoption of final briefs of argument by all parties.

The PDP and Ighodalo are contesting the declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner, after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced Okpebholo’s victory with 291,667 votes, surpassing Ighodalo’s 247,655 votes.

Challenging the election outcome, the PDP and Ighodalo petitioned the tribunal, alleging non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022. The petition, marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, claims that Governor Okpebholo did not secure the highest number of lawful votes and that INEC improperly handled sensitive electoral materials, allegedly enabling rigging in favor of the APC.

During the final address adoption, the petitioners’ counsel, Mr. Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN, pointed out discrepancies, including vote inflation at collation centers, where 25 votes allegedly increased to 525. They urged the tribunal to invalidate the Certificate of Return issued to Okpebholo and declare Ighodalo as the rightful winner, insisting they presented enough evidence to substantiate their claims.

Conversely, INEC, Governor Okpebholo, and the APC have urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition, describing it as lacking merit. INEC’s counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, argued that the petitioners’ claims of non-compliance contradicted their request to be declared winners. Governor Okpebholo’s counsel, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, termed the petition an “academic exercise,” highlighting a Supreme Court ruling that over-voting must be proven using the BVAS machines. Similarly, APC’s counsel, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, contended that the petitioners did not meet the legal burden of proof.