Edo 2024: Ighodalo And PDP Challenge Election Outcome, Vow To Continue Legal Battle

PDP Legal Team Declares Intent to Appeal Tribunal Ruling

Listen up, folks. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) isn’t backing down just yet. Their legal team, representing governorship candidate Asue Ighodalo in Edo State, has made it crystal clear: they’re not satisfied with the ruling by the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal. This tribunal recently upheld the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo from the All Progressives Congress (APC), dismissing the PDP’s petition. But the PDP isn’t throwing in the towel—they’re vowing to challenge this decision and take the fight to the next level.

What Happened at the Tribunal?

Let me break it down for you. The tribunal, headed by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, dismissed the petition filed by Ighodalo and the PDP, stating that it lacked merit. Now, this tribunal wasn’t just any group—it was made up of three members who carefully reviewed all the evidence presented. They concluded that the PDP and Ighodalo didn’t provide enough credible evidence to back their claims. The tribunal emphasized that the burden of proof lies with the petitioners, and in this case, the PDP didn’t meet that standard.

The Election Controversy: What Was Alleged?

Back in September 2024, Edo State held its gubernatorial election. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Governor Monday Okpebholo of the APC emerged victorious, securing 291,667 votes. Meanwhile, Ighodalo from the PDP garnered 247,655 votes. But here’s the kicker: the PDP wasn’t satisfied with these results. They filed a petition, alleging serious irregularities in the election process. They claimed that the election didn’t adhere to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022. Specifically, they argued that Okpebholo didn’t receive the highest number of lawful votes and accused INEC of failing to properly manage sensitive election materials, which allegedly led to rigging in favor of the APC.

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PDP's Evidence: Was It Enough?

The PDP and Ighodalo went all in, presenting 19 witnesses and a mountain of documents to support their case. Among these documents were 153 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines used across 133 polling units. They claimed that results from these units were tampered with at collation centers, leading to over-voting in Okpebholo’s favor. However, the tribunal wasn’t convinced. They found that the petitioners failed to produce credible evidence. Instead, they relied heavily on hearsay, which the tribunal deemed insufficient. The tribunal stressed that key items like the Voters Register, BVAS machines, and Form EC8A were missing from the petitioners’ evidence. Without these, the tribunal couldn’t validate their claims of over-voting.

Tribunal's Verdict: A Closer Look

The tribunal’s ruling was clear: even if the votes the PDP claimed were unlawfully credited to the APC were deducted, Governor Okpebholo would still have emerged as the winner. The tribunal also criticized the petitioners for failing to produce competent witnesses, such as polling unit agents or presiding officers, who could have substantiated their claims. The panel emphasized that a petitioner must succeed based on their own case, not on the weakness of the defense. The tribunal rejected new facts introduced in the petitioners’ reply, stating that they weren’t part of the original case.

What’s Next for Ighodalo and the PDP?

After the tribunal’s ruling, the Ighodalo legal team expressed their dissatisfaction and vowed to take the matter to the Court of Appeal. They believe the tribunal’s findings were flawed and are determined to seek justice through the appellate court. The PDP’s lawyers are confident that they have a strong case and are prepared to continue the legal battle. This isn’t the end of the road for them—they’re ready to fight for what they believe is their rightful mandate.