The Edo State governorship election petitions tribunal sitting in Abuja on Wednesday affirmed Governor Monday Okpebholo’s victory in the September 21, 2024, election in the state.
A three-member panel headed by Justice Wilfred Kpochi dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, for lack of merit.
The petitioners are challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaration of Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the poll.
They alleged that the election was marred by irregularities.
The petitioners, among other things, contended that the governorship election was invalid because of alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Justice Kpochi, who delivered the lead judgement, held that the petitioners failed to call competent witnesses to prove the allegations of non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
He noted that the failure of the petitioners to call polling unit officers, presiding officers or even voters during the election was fatal to their petition.
According to the chairman, most of the 19 witnesses called by the PDP merely gave hearsay evidence during the proceedings.
He also faulted the PDP’s reliance on Section 137 of the Electoral Act to dump documents on the tribunal.
© Ripples Nigeria