The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, declined to nullify the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

In a unanimous decision, a three-member panel of the tribunal led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, equally refused to order the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct a fresh governorship poll in Edo state.

The tribunal held that the prayer, which was contained in a petition that was brought before it by the Accord Party, AP, and its gubernatorial candidate in the state, could not be granted as the petitioners failed to discharge the burden of proof placed on them by the law.

While striking out the petition for being incompetent, the panel noted that whereas the petitioners alleged that the governorship election held in the state on September 21, 2024, was invalid by reason of corrupt practices and non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, they, however, failed to adduce any credible evidence to establish the allegation.

According to the tribunal, while the petitioners made “general and sweeping allegations” against the outcome of the election, they failed to bring particulars of exact polling units or wards where the alleged widespread rigging and non-compliance occured.

Describing some of the averments in the petition as “vague”, the tribunal held that allegations against governor Okpebholo’s victory, were not substantiated.

The tribunal said it found merit in all the preliminary objections that were filed to challenge the competence of the petition.

It will be recalled that while the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared that Okpebholo of the APC secured a total of 291, 667 votes to defeat his closest rival, Ighodalo of the PDP, who got a total of 247, 655 votes, candidate of the AP scored a total of 252 votes.

Dissatisfied with the result, AP and its candidate lodged the petition, insisting that the election was fraught with manifest irregularities they said included multiple thumbprinting, violence, intimidation and harassment of voters, as well as alleged failure to use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, machines in various polling units in the state.

The Justice Kpochi-led panel held that the petition did not disclose any reasonable cause of action.

The tribunal had earlier dismissed another petition the Action Alliance, AA, also filed to nullify governor Okpebholo’s election.

With the two cases gone, the panel is set to decide the joint petition the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate, Asuerinme Ighodalo, filed to be declared authentic winners of the disputed governorship contest.

chokekachy:


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/04/breaking-edo-tribunal-declines-to-nullify-gov-okpebholos-election/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJaEdhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHYKsi5J4W1G8JV_lhGxIwaT-TKa9YsJsR4D-h4yIJWm7zNPM_3Ij7DybSQ_aem_A2kwcCaJwvVmq98N7vf3sg

PDPdestroyer:
This is victory for democracy and rule of law. God bless the SW, SS, NC, NW and NE

failed to discharge the burden of proof placed on them by the law.

Kingpele:
Apc and judiciary are 5&6, criminal state live and direct, burden of proof by foot...when we watched helplessly as APC thugs were busy thurb printing ballot papers for APC candidates. Nawaoh

XtraFortunes:
Okpebolo is not fit to lead Edo. The worst among us cannot continue to lead us

Nigeria will not make any progress because the Judiciary has continued to impose the worst people as our leaders

The man cannot read and cannot speak well. Does not have ability to pronounce and comprehend big numbers as seen during the budget presentation.

Edo is in trouble. This Okpebolo promised to provide insecurity in Edo State and as you can see herdsmen are running rampage in Edo and the people have decided to take matters into their own hands

PDPdestroyer:
This is victory for democracy and rule of law. God bless the SW, SS, NC, NW and NE

Kingpele:
Apc and judiciary are 5&6, criminal state live and direct, burden of proof by foot...when we watched helplessly as APC thugs were busy thurb printing ballot papers for APC candidates. Nawaoh

ogaemma:
A Governor that ran to Kano to beg the Caliphate and cry like a baby in Kano.
Even the supreme court will affirm Monday Okpebholo as the Governor.
They should stop wasting money on lawyers and forget.