Jane Otu, South South
'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - The Edo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja has upheld the election of Senator Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of Edo State. The three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, challenging the outcome of the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
In its ruling, the Tribunal declared that the petitioners failed to substantiate their claims of electoral irregularities and non-compliance with the Electoral Act. The judgment, read by Justice Kpochi, stated that the PDP did not present competent witnesses to support their allegations. It emphasized that proving non-compliance requires concrete evidence, such as testimonies from polling unit officers, presiding officers, or voters—none of which were presented by the petitioners.
The Tribunal criticized the PDP for relying on 19 witnesses, most of whom provided hearsay evidence. It also rejected the party’s attempt to “dump documents” on the Tribunal under Section 137 of the Electoral Act, clarifying that it is not the Tribunal’s responsibility to scrutinize documents without proper witness testimony.
Furthermore, the Tribunal ruled that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines tendered by the petitioners held no evidentiary weight, as the Tribunal is not tasked with extracting data from them. To substantiate claims of over-voting, the petitioners were required to present the voters’ register, BVAS data, and polling unit results (Forms EC8A), which they failed to do.
With these findings, the Tribunal dismissed Ighodalo’s petition, deeming it lacking in merit.
Following the verdict, Governor Monday Okpebholo extended an olive branch to his opponent, urging unity and collaboration for the development of Edo State. “The time for politics is over. I call on all citizens, including my brother, Asue Ighodalo, and members of the opposition, to work together for the progress of our great state,” Okpebholo said in a statement.
His Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to good governance. “This victory belongs to the people of Edo State. Governor Okpebholo remains focused on delivering on his campaign promises and will not be distracted by political litigations,” Itua stated.
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike also congratulated Governor Okpebholo on his legal triumph. Wike, a member of the PDP, acknowledged the legitimacy of Okpebholo’s mandate and urged him to stay focused on governance rather than political distractions.
In a statement by his aide, Lere Olayinka, Wike expressed confidence in Okpebholo’s leadership. “This victory reaffirms the will of the people of Edo State. I believe in Governor Okpebholo’s ability to deliver on his promises, and I am optimistic that his administration will positively impact the state and its people,” Wike said.
With the Tribunal’s ruling, the legal battle over the governorship election appears settled, paving the way for Okpebholo to focus on governance and development initiatives for Edo State.
