On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, the Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, reserved judgment in the petition filed by the Action Alliance (AA) challenging the results of the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State.
The tribunal stated that the date for the judgment would be communicated to all parties and their counsels. During the resumed hearing, counsels for both sides presented their written addresses.
Adewale Adebayo, counsel to the petitioner (AA), asked the court to uphold all the arguments made on behalf of his client and grant his requests.
On the other hand, the counsels for the All Progressives Congress (APC), represented by Anthony Umeri, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), represented by Dike Udenna, and Governor Monday Okpebholo, represented by Linda Chuba-Ikpeazu, all requested the court to dismiss the petition. They argued that the petition lacked merit and was an abuse of court process.
The petition was uniquely filed by the National Chairman of the Action Alliance, Mr. Adekunle Omoaje, rather than jointly by the party and its candidate. Omoaje argued that INEC had failed to recognize his party’s nominated candidate for the governorship election and also failed to acknowledge him as the National Chairman of the party, despite a court ruling in his favor.
Omoaje maintained that his petition was based on the exclusion of his party’s candidate and urged the tribunal to recognize him as the legitimate national chairman of AA.
