The Court of Appeal in Abuja has solidified Monday Okpebholo’s position as the legitimate Governor of Edo State, delivering a decisive judgment that dismissed Asue Ighodalo’s challenge to the September 2024 election results.
The three-judge panel, presided over by Justice Hamma Akawu Barka, unanimously upheld the earlier verdict of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
In its detailed ruling, the appellate court made several crucial determinations that effectively dismantled Ighodalo’s case.
The judges rejected evidence from 133 BVAS machines presented by the PDP candidate, declaring the documents inadmissible because they were obtained without proper authorization from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Additionally, the court struck out testimonies from 49 polling unit agents, ruling they were submitted after the legal deadline had passed. The panel further found no merit in claims of overvoting, concluding that the petitioners failed to provide sufficient proof to invalidate the election results.
Today’s ruling not only resolves months of political uncertainty but also strengthens the APC’s foothold in Edo State, representing a notable shift in the South-South region’s political dynamics.
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