Edo Election Tribunal Upholds Governor Okpebholo's Victory: What Happened Next?

Edo Tribunal Backs Governor Okpebholo: Accord Party's Challenge Falls Flat

On a significant Wednesday in Abuja, the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal delivered a unanimous verdict upholding the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo from the All Progressives Congress (APC). This decision effectively dismissed the petition filed by the Accord Party and its governorship candidate, who were hoping to overturn the results. The tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, ruled that the petition lacked the necessary merit and failed to establish any substantial grounds to nullify the September 21, 2024, governorship election.

Why the Tribunal Rejected the Accord Party's Claims

In a comprehensive judgment, the tribunal firmly rejected the Accord Party's demands for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election. The tribunal pointed out that the party and its candidate had not met the burden of proof required by law. The petitioners had made sweeping allegations of electoral malpractices, including vote rigging, non-compliance with the Electoral Act, and corrupt practices. However, they failed to provide credible evidence or specify the exact polling units or wards where these alleged infractions occurred. The tribunal described these claims as vague and unsubstantiated, concluding that no reasonable cause of action was disclosed in the case.

Furthermore, the tribunal upheld all preliminary objections filed to challenge the competence of the petition. This means that the tribunal found no legal basis for the Accord Party's claims, reinforcing the legitimacy of Governor Okpebholo's victory.

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The Election Results: A Clear Victory for Okpebholo

INEC had officially declared Governor Monday Okpebholo the winner of the election, securing an impressive 291,667 votes. His closest rival, Asue Ighodalo from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), garnered 247,655 votes. Meanwhile, the Accord Party's candidate managed a distant 252 votes. Despite their poor showing, the Accord Party challenged the results, alleging widespread irregularities such as multiple thumbprinting, voter intimidation, and the failure to deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in several polling units. However, their allegations fell short of convincing the tribunal.

Previous Rulings: A Pattern of Dismissals

This ruling follows a similar decision by the tribunal to dismiss a petition filed by the Action Alliance (AA), which also sought to annul Governor Okpebholo's victory. With both the Accord Party and Action Alliance petitions now dismissed, all eyes are on the tribunal's upcoming judgment regarding the remaining petition. This petition was jointly filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who are seeking to be declared the winners of the disputed election.

In the end, Governor Monday Okpebholo's victory remains intact, and the tribunal's decisions highlight the importance of evidence-based claims in election petitions. As the legal battles continue, the people of Edo State and the nation at large await the tribunal's final judgment on the PDP's petition with bated breath.