• APC alleges plot by PDP supporters to disrupt proceeding
The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, has reserved judgment in the case challenging Governor Monday Okpebholo’s victory in the September 2024 election.
The three-man panel, chaired by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, informed the parties, after the adoption of the process, that a date for the judgment would be communicated to them. The petition was filed by Dr. Asue Ighodalo and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeking to overturn Okpebholo’s victory, citing irregularities and non-compliance with electoral laws.
Representing the petitioners, a senior lawyer, Ken Mozia, contended that the PDP had successfully demonstrated electoral malpractices in 765 polling units out of 4,519 across the state. He emphasised that election petitions should be determined by the impact of irregularities, not just the percentage of affected polling units.
Mozia highlighted discrepancies at various collation levels where figures on Form EC8A (polling unit results) were allegedly reduced at the ward and local council collation stages (EC8B).
He also argued that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had certified all documents tendered by the petitioners, yet failed to present any counter-evidence.
“The issue is not about producing an alternative result, but about questioning the validity of the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal uploads,” Mozia stated, urging the tribunal to nullify the election.
INEC’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi, maintained that the PDP’s petition lacked merit, arguing that the petitioners had failed to tender actual election results to back their claims.
APC’s lawyer, Emmanuel Okala, aligned with INEC’s position, dismissing the petition as speculative and unproven. He argued that out of over 4,000 polling units in Edo State, the petitioners only called five polling unit agents as witnesses, which he deemed insignificant.
Reacting, OgbeideIfaluyi-Isibor, a chieftain of the PDP expressed satisfaction with the proceedings, stating that the petitioners are confident in their case.
MEANWHILE, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm over a subterranean plot by supporters of the opposition PDP to disrupt the ongoing proceedings of Edo state governorship tribunal.
The Chairman of the Edo chapter of the APC, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, in a statement yesterday, claimed that the planned disruption is aimed at influencing the outcome of the tribunal decision.
According to Tenebe, the PDP and Ighodalo’s supporters plan to carry out this unlawful act today, highlighting the need for security agencies to be proactive in preventing this disruption.
The APC chief, who emphasised that the party will not tolerate attempts to compromise the judicial process or disrupt peace, called on security agencies to take the threat seriously and hold those responsible for the planned disruption accountable.
The APC chief called on security agencies, including the Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Army, to be vigilant and take necessary measures to prevent a potential disruption of the Attorney General’s Office by supporters of PDP and its defeated governorship candidate, Ighodalo.
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