Justice Wilfred Kpochi, leading the three-member panel, stated that the judgment date would be communicated later.
By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – The Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has reserved judgment in the petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, challenging Governor Monday Okpebholo’s victory in the September 21, 2024 election.
Justice Wilfred Kpochi, leading the three-member panel, stated that the judgment date would be communicated later.
Petitioners had argued that the election was marred by “non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022” and that Okpebholo “did not secure the highest number of votes.”
But INEC’s counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), urged dismissal, stating the petitioners neither sought election annulment nor provided alternative results to be declared winners.
He also argued that their case relied on “hired consultants’ analysis” and that “all polling unit agents signed result sheets.”
However, Okpebholo’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), dismissed claims of over-voting, asserting that no Bimodal Verification Authentication System (BVAS) machines were examined.
In his submission, APC’s lawyer, Emmanuel Ukala, contended that proving non-compliance requires polling unit-by-polling unit evidence, yet petitioners called only five agents for over 4,000 polling units.
The petitioners’ counsel, Ken Moze (SAN), countered that their case concerns “765 polling units” and election petitions are assessed by “the effect of established violations, not total polling unit coverage.”
He argued that “votes increased at collation centres” and documents presented were “certified by INEC and accepted without objection.”