The Edo State Governorship Election Tribunal has ruled on all eight motions before it, with a balanced outcome—four decisions in favor of the petitioners, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Asue Akintunde Ighodalo, and four in favor of the respondents.
Among the dismissed motions were four filed by Ighodalo, challenging the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo. The petitioners had argued that the election was marred by non-compliance and over-voting, rendering the results invalid. However, the tribunal, citing Supreme Court precedents, emphasized that while substantial non-compliance was demonstrated, the burden of proof rested solely on the petitioners and could not be shifted to the respondents.
Similarly, the respondents also had four motions dismissed, including one seeking to strike out certain paragraphs from the petition.
Notably, allegations that Okpebholo was not duly elected collapsed under scrutiny, as the evidence presented failed to substantiate the claims. The dismissal of key motions further underscores the tribunal’s strict adherence to electoral law and precedent.
With all eight motions now resolved, the tribunal’s focus shifts to the substantive issues in the petition challenging the outcome of the election.
Details shortly
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