The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has reaffirmed the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), dismissing a petition by the Accord Party (AP) and its candidate.
In a unanimous verdict on Wednesday, the three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, ruled that the petitioners failed to provide compelling evidence to justify their claims of electoral malpractice and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
The tribunal emphasized that the allegations of widespread irregularities were not supported by specific details or credible proof. It noted that the petition lacked particulars of polling units or wards where misconduct allegedly occurred, rendering the claims vague and unsubstantiated.
Furthermore, the panel found merit in preliminary objections that challenged the competence of the petition, ultimately striking it out for being legally deficient. The tribunal had previously dismissed a similar case filed by the Action Alliance (AA) against Okpebholo’s victory.
With these rulings, Okpebholo’s mandate remains intact, though the tribunal is still set to deliberate on the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who seek to overturn the election results in their favor.