The Edo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja has affirmed Senator Monday Okpebholo as the State Governor.
A three-member panel headed by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, dismissed the petition filed by the People’s Democratic Party and its candidate, Doctor Asue Ighodalo, against the outcome of the September 21, 2024 governorship election.
In its judgment, the panel ruled that the petitioners failed to call competent witnesses to prove the allegations of non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
In the lead judgment read by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, the Tribunal said non-compliance must be proven convincingly. It noted that the failure of the petitioners to call polling unit officers, presiding officers or even voters during the election proved fatal to their petition.
Reacting to the judgement, PDP governorship candidate, Doctor Asue Ighodalo through his team of lawyers vowed to challenge the judgement at the Court of Appeal
The Tribunal had earlier dismissed the petitions instituted by the Action Alliance and Accord Party on the ground that the petitions lacked merit
INEC had declared that Senator Okpebholo of the APC won 291, 667 votes to defeat his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, who polled 247, 655 votes in the election
