See actual date tribunal fixed for final judgement of the Edo governorship poll battle

• The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal volition present its judgement contiguous connected the PDP's situation against Governor Okpebholo's predetermination triumph successful September 2024
• PDP and its candidate, Ighodalo, allege predetermination irregularities, including manipulated results successful 765 polling units, and question to annul Okpebholo's victory
• Governor Okpebholo and the APC person dismissed the petition, asserting it lacks merit and emphasizing the credibility of the predetermination process, portion calling for bid and unity

FCT, Abuja - The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting successful Abuja, has scheduled contiguous being Wednesday, April 1 for the transportation of its judgement connected the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, challenging the results of the September 21, 2024 gubernatorial election.

The judgement volition find the destiny of the arguable predetermination that saw the declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) arsenic the winner.

Edo Governorship Poll Battle: Tension As Tribunal Announces When It Will Issue Its Final Judgement
Source: Twitter

Justice Wilfred Kpochi, who heads the three-member tribunal, communicated the day to the acrophobic parties successful the aboriginal hours of yesterday.

The tribunal had antecedently reserved its determination connected March 3, aft each parties progressive had submitted their last briefs of argument.

PDP and Ighodalo situation predetermination outcome

The PDP and its candidate, Ighodalo, are disputing the declaration of Governor Okpebholo’s triumph by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which showed him securing 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo who received 247,655 votes.

The petitioners contend that the predetermination did not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, and was marred by wide irregularities.

In their petition marked: EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, the PDP and Ighodalo assertion that Okpebholo did not unafraid the highest fig of lawful votes successful the election, alleging manipulation of results crossed aggregate polling units.

They peculiarly cited discrepancies successful the results from 765 polling units, accusing INEC of mishandling delicate predetermination materials and aiding electoral fraud.

During Monday’s last address, Mr. Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN, representing the petitioners, argued that results from the polling units were altered astatine the collation centres.

"For instance, however could 25 votes crook into 525 votes astatine a peculiar collation centre? That is what we are contesting," Oyeyipo remarked.

The petitioners person called for the annulment of Okpebholo's Certificate of Return, urging the tribunal to state Ighodalo arsenic the rightful winner.

Respondents cull allegations and question dismissal

However, each respondents—INEC, Governor Okpebholo, and the APC—have vehemently rejected the allegations.

They urged the tribunal to disregard the petition, insisting that the petitioners failed to supply credible grounds to enactment their claims.

INEC’s pb counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, pointed retired that the petitioners' petition for a declaration successful their favour contradicted their assertion that the predetermination was invalid.

"They assertion non-compliance with the electoral process, but inactive question to beryllium declared winners of the aforesaid poll," Agabi said.

Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, representing Governor Okpebholo, dismissed the petition arsenic an world exercise, emphasizing that over-voting could not beryllium proven without the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines.

Similarly, the APC’s counsel, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, stressed that the petitioners had not met the ineligible load of impervious required.

Governor Okpebholo calls for bid and unity

Edo Governorship Poll Battle: Tension As Tribunal Announces When It Will Issue Its Final Judgement
Source: Twitter

As hostility mounts successful the state, Governor Okpebholo has urged APC supporters and residents of Edo to support bid and unity, careless of the tribunal's outcome.

In a statement, helium emphasized the value of respecting the regularisation of instrumentality and the antiauthoritarian process.

"We person witnessed a vibrant and competitory electoral process, and I respect the ineligible avenues disposable to each parties. The tribunal’s determination is simply a important portion of our antiauthoritarian process, and we indispensable each respect its authority," Okpebholo said.

The politician called connected governmental and assemblage leaders to enactment unneurotic to guarantee peace, debar the dispersed of misinformation, and absorption connected the state’s development.

"Our State’s advancement and improvement are paramount. Let america amusement the federation that we are committed to democracy, peace, and progress," helium added.

The tribunal's last determination volition beryllium a defining infinitesimal successful the state's governmental history, arsenic it seeks to resoluteness 1 of the astir contentious governorship elections successful caller years.

Edo poll: PDP decries 'stolen mandate

Previouly, Legit.ng reported that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) successful Edo authorities has officially filed a petition with the Election Tribunal, challenging the September 21 governorship predetermination results.

Anthony Aziegbemi, the PDP president successful Edo state, announced the improvement during a property briefing connected Monday, October 14, successful Benin city.

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Source: Legit.ng