The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, has refused to nullify the election victory of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, upheld the results of the election and rejected calls for a fresh poll in the state.
A three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, dismissed the petition filed by the Accord Party (AP) and its gubernatorial candidate. The tribunal noted that the petitioners failed to provide sufficient evidence to support their claims of electoral malpractice and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
The panel pointed out that although the petitioners alleged widespread irregularities, including corruption and violations of electoral laws during the September 21, 2024 election, they did not present credible proof to back their claims. The tribunal further stated that the accusations were too general, lacking specific details on polling units or wards where these alleged irregularities took place.
“The petitioners made general and sweeping allegations,” the tribunal noted, adding that the claims against Governor Okpebholo’s victory were not backed by substantial evidence. Some of the arguments presented in the petition were described as vague and insufficient to warrant the annulment of the election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Okpebholo the winner after he secured 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Asuerinme Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 247,655 votes. The Accord Party’s candidate received a total of 252 votes.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, AP and its candidate had approached the tribunal, arguing that the election was marred by multiple thumbprinting, voter intimidation, violence, and the alleged failure to use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in some polling units. However, the tribunal ruled that the petition did not present a reasonable cause of action.
This decision follows an earlier ruling by the same tribunal, which dismissed a similar petition from the Action Alliance (AA) that also sought to annul Okpebholo’s election.
With these two cases settled, the tribunal is now set to decide on a petition filed jointly by the PDP and its candidate, Ighodalo, who is seeking to be declared the rightful winner of the disputed election.
