From Staff Writer
The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal is set to announce its verdict tomorrow, Wednesday, 2 April 2025, in a high-profile legal battle over the outcome of the 2024 governorship election.
The petition, filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, challenges the declaration of Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election held on 21 September 2024. The PDP and Ighodalo allege that the poll was tainted by irregularities and are seeking to overturn the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, had earlier reserved judgement on 3 March 2025 after all parties submitted their final written arguments. The panel will deliver rulings on three separate petitions, identified as EPT/ED/GOV/01/2024, EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, and EPT/ED/GOV/03/2024.
During the proceedings, the tribunal admitted 148 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines into evidence, following a request by the petitioners. These electronic devices, which were used in 133 disputed polling units, were presented by an INEC Senior Technical Officer, Anthony Itodo, and accepted by the panel as exhibits.
INEC had officially declared Okpebholo the winner of the governorship election, stating that he secured 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo, who polled 247,655 votes. However, the PDP and its candidate insist that the election was not conducted in line with the Electoral Act 2022 and have urged the tribunal to nullify Okpebholo’s victory.
On the other hand, the APC and Okpebholo maintain that the petition lacks merit, arguing that the claims of irregularities have not been substantiated. They have called on the tribunal to dismiss the case.
With political tensions running high in Edo State, all eyes are now on the tribunal as it prepares to deliver a ruling that could shape the State’s political landscape.
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