Edo Election Tribunal Reserves Ruling As Parties Adopt Written Addresses

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Edo State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Monday, March ,3, 2025, has reserved judgment  in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate in the September 21, 2024 off-circle gubernatorial election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressive Congress, APC, winner of the polls conducted in the 18 local councils of the Edo state .

But dissatisfied with the outcome,  Ighodalo and the PDP approached the Tribunal seeking a reversal.

In their petition, the PDP and its candidate had alleged massive manipulation of electoral figures by its rival APC, as well as incidences of over voting.

The PDP specifically, alleged, that the electoral figures announced by INEC in many polling units, far outnumbered those of the accredited voters.

The Party averred that  the manipulation was carried out in complete favour of the APC.

The Justice Wilfred Kpochi- led panel at Monday’s session informed that all the parties will be communicated on the date for judgment.

Earlier, all the parties were given time to formally adopt their written addresses.

Adetunji Oyeyibo, SAN ,Kalu Agabi, SAN, former Attorney General, and Minister of Justice, and Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN, adopted their various written addresses on behalf of the PDP, INEC and APC respectively.

Expectedly, Ikpeazu urged the Court to dismiss the petition filed by the PDP, against his client, Governor  Okpebholo, insisting that it was anchored on a watery ground.

He described the petition as well as the efforts of the petitioner’s counsel as not more than a mere academic exercise.

Earlier, Agabi had argued that his client, the INEC, conducted the polls in substantial compliance with all the extant laws contrary to the  position of the  PDP and its candidate.

Agabi ,therefore, submitted that there is no sufficient grounds to grant the reliefs being sought by the  petitioners among which is the cancelation of the said polls.