Controversy rocks Edo as Tribunal judgement set for today goes viral, surfaces online
…Okpebholo calls for unity, respect for judicial process
A political storm is brewing in Edo State following the circulation of leaked copies of the yet-to-be-read judgment from the Edo State Governorship Election Tribunal.
The document, which surfaced online hours before the scheduled delivery of the judgment today, has sparked heated debate and confusion, with conflicting opinions over its authenticity.
The leaked judgement appears to endorse the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), dismissing the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo.
According to the document circulating on the internet, the tribunal’s two majority judges—Justice Wilfred Kpochi, the panel’s chairman, and Justice A.B. Yusuf—affirmed Okpebholo’s victory.
However, the third judge, Justice A.A. Adewole, issued a dissenting opinion, calling for the issuance of a fresh Certificate of Return to Ighodalo, citing alleged electoral irregularities.
The leaked document, which claims a two-to-one split in the tribunal’s ruling, has generated intense speculation. Justice Adewole’s minority judgment argues that Governor Okpebholo’s election was invalid due to significant non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
The judgement, according to Justice Adewole, highlighted errors in vote collation and the failure to follow required procedures, such as the omission of serial numbers on election documents and instances of over-voting.
The minority opinion contends that the actual results should have shown Ighodalo as the winner with 243,113 votes, while Okpebholo’s tally should have been 210,326 votes.
In contrast, the majority judgement rejected these claims. Justice Kpochi and Justice Yusuf, the majority members, conceded that there was some evidence of procedural violations, including over-voting and missing serial numbers, but held that these irregularities were not substantial enough to alter the election results.
The majority judgment cited precedents from the Supreme Court, including the Oyetola vs. Adeleke and Atiku vs. INEC cases, affirming that the petitioners had failed to prove that the irregularities had significantly affected the election outcome.
“The petitioners have not discharged the dual burden to the satisfaction of the law,” the majority judgment concluded, dismissing the petition. “Accordingly, the petition lacks merit and is hereby dismissed.”
The PDP and Ighodalo, who had petitioned the tribunal over alleged breaches in the conduct of the election, are yet to officially respond to the leaked judgment. As the tribunal’s official judgment day approaches, questions remain about the authenticity of the leaked document and its potential impact on the political climate in Edo State.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier declared Okpebholo the winner of the September 2024 governorship election. Okpebholo defeated Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP).
Dissatisfied, the PDP and its candidate, filed a petition challenging Okpebholo’s victory in the September 21, 2024, election. They accused INEC of electoral irregularities, including over-voting, lack of ballot serialisation, errors in collation, and miscalculations in results.
During the tribunal hearings, the petitioners presented 19 witnesses and summoned a Senior Technical Officer from INEC’s ICT department. The officer provided 154 BVAS machines as evidence to support claims of over-voting.
In the case which was marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, INEC did not call any witnesses in response to the petition. Okpebholo presented one witness, while the APC brought forward four witnesses before concluding their defense.
The three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, had, in the last sitting, stated that the tribunal’s judgment would be delivered at a later date.
“A date for judgment will be communicated to the parties by the Secretary of the tribunal. The tribunal stands adjourned until then,” Justice Kpochi said.
Ahead of the anticipated ruling from the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Governor Monday Okpebholo has called for peace and order across Edo State, urging his supporters and residents to respect the legal process and maintain harmony.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, Governor Okpebholo emphasised that while the political process had been competitive, the rule of law and the authority of the judiciary must be upheld.
He stated, “We have witnessed a vibrant and competitive electoral process, and I respect the legal avenues available to all parties. The tribunal’s decision is a crucial part of our democratic process, and we must all respect its authority.”
Okpebholo also called for an end to political divisions and urged all residents to focus on the state’s progress and development, emphasising that peace and unity are vital for sustaining the gains achieved in recent years.
He added, “We must not allow political differences to disrupt the peace and harmony we have worked so hard to build.”
Reiterating his confidence in the judiciary’s ability to deliver a fair and just decision, the governor called on political leaders, community heads, and citizens to embrace unity, avoid spreading misinformation, and honor the judicial process.
“I have full faith in the resilience and maturity of the people of Edo State. We will show the nation that we are committed to democracy, peace, and progress,” he concluded.
