Anxiety As Edo Awaits Tribunal Verdict on Governorship Dispute Today

Okpebholo sues for calm

By Eshioromeh Sebastian, Abuja and Osehobo Afure, Benin

The air in Edo State hangs heavy with tension as the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja delivere its judgement today. The ruling will determine whether Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) rightfully won the September 21, 2024 election or if the opposition’s claims of irregularities will upend the political landscape.

Across Benin City and beyond, an uneasy calm prevails. Party loyalists from both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have trooped to Abuja in droves, to witness the judgment.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate for the Edo State September 2024 governorship election, Asue Igodalo, are challenging the victory of the Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressive Congress (APC). The tribunal, sitting at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja, will adjudicate on three consolidated petitions challenging the victory of Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The petitions, filed under case numbers EPT/ED/GOV/01/2024, EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, and EPT/ED/GOV/03/2024, were brought by opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, who allege widespread irregularities in the poll.

The APC’s Okpebholo was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and subsequently sworn in as governor on November 12, 2024. However, his victory was swiftly contested by multiple opposition parties, leading to a protracted legal battle marked by dramatic courtroom clashes and security concerns.

The tribunal, chaired by Justice Kpochi, initially convened in Benin City but was forced to relocate to Abuja in January 2025 following violent disruptions. On one occasion, armed thugs, allegedly affiliated with the PDP, stormed the court premises, firing gunshots and chanting slogans demanding justice. The incident, captured in viral videos, drew widespread condemnation and heightened fears of further unrest.

During the final hearings, lead counsel for the PDP, Ken Mozia (SAN), argued that the election was marred by substantial non-compliance with electoral laws, particularly over-voting and manipulation of results at collation centres. The petitioners focused on 765 polling units where they alleged discrepancies between votes cast and BVAS accreditation records.

“Our grievance is not with the conduct of the election at the polling units but with the inexplicable inflation of figures at the collation level,” Mozia contended. “When 25 votes mysteriously become 525, the integrity of the entire process is compromised.”

However, the APC’s legal team, led by Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), dismissed the claims as baseless, insisting that the petitioners failed to provide concrete evidence linking alleged irregularities to the final outcome. Citing Supreme Court precedents, Ukala argued that allegations of over-voting must be proven with specific polling unit data, a burden the PDP allegedly failed to discharge.

“The petitioners merely dumped documents on the tribunal without demonstrating how these affected the election’s outcome,” Ukala said. “Their case rests on hearsay and unsubstantiated assertions.”

INEC’s counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), echoed these sentiments, urging the tribunal to dismiss the petitions for lacking merit. He noted that the PDP neither sought the outright nullification of the election nor presented alternative results to justify its claim to victory.

Authorities have deployed additional security personnel around the NJI complex to forestall potential unrest. The Edo State Police Command has assured residents of adequate measures to maintain order.

Meanwhile, Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has urged residents in Edo State to remain calm ahead of the election tribunal’s judgment set for Wednesday.

In a statement signed by Fred Itua, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Okpebholo stressed the need for peace and unity, urging supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and all Edo residents to respect the tribunal’s decision.

“We have witnessed a vibrant electoral process, and I respect the legal avenues available to all parties,” he said. “The tribunal’s decision is a crucial part of our democracy, and we must respect its authority.”

The governor also called on political and community leaders to discourage misinformation and promote harmony.

“Our state’s progress is paramount. We must not allow political differences to disrupt the peace we have worked so hard to build,” he added.

Expressing confidence in the judiciary, Okpebholo assured residents of his commitment to democracy and good governance.