Ighodalo heads to Appeal Court after tribunal upholds Gov Okpebholo’s victory
On Wednesday, April 2, the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal affirmed the victory of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), ruling that there was no valid reason to annul the results of the September 21, 2024, election.
The tribunal’s three-member panel, led by Chairman Justice Wilfred Kpochi, dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asuerinme Ighodalo, challenging the election outcome.
The tribunal ruled that the petitioners failed to provide credible evidence to justify setting aside the election results. In the September 2024 election, Governor Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo, who garnered 247,655 votes.
Ighodalo and the PDP had alleged that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022. They also claimed that there was rigging and manipulation of results in 765 polling units, which led to over-voting in favor of Okpebholo. The petitioners presented 19 witnesses and various exhibits, including 153 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines used in 133 polling units, as evidence.
However, the tribunal dismissed these claims, noting that the petitioners had failed to demonstrate their case with sufficient evidence. The panel found that many of the witnesses provided hearsay evidence and that the petitioners had failed to produce key witnesses such as polling unit agents, presiding officers, or voters to support their allegations.
The tribunal also pointed out that the BVAS machines presented by the petitioners did not show any proof of over-voting, as none of the machines were switched on to demonstrate discrepancies in the voting process. It further emphasized that the petitioners’ claim regarding the failure to pre-record election materials was not substantiated by evidence.
In its conclusion, the tribunal stated that even if the alleged votes were deducted, Governor Okpebholo would still have remained the winner of the election.
In response to the ruling, Ighodalo’s legal team announced plans to appeal the decision at the Court of Appeal, vowing to continue their fight for what they believe is a fair resolution.
