The supreme court has affirmed the election of Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the governor of Edo State, upholding the decisions of the court of appeal in Abuja.
The Five man panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba Lawan who delivered Judgement held that the appellants could not establish their claims that the election was marred by irregularities, which included over-voting and substantial non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act.
The journey which started at the tribunal in Edo state but later transferred to Abuja, on grounds of security complaints, has finally come to an end.
According to the Supreme Court, it found no reason to set aside the concurrent judgments of both the Court of Appeal and the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which returned Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the valid winner of the gubernatorial contest.
A five man panel led by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba held that the appellant failed to adduce credible and admissible evidence to substantiate his claim that the election was marred by irregularities that included over-voting and substantial non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act.
The Apex court also held that the appellant failed to call relevant witnesses to demonstrate some of the evidence he tendered in support of his case, especially the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, machines
The National Judicial institute hosted the Edo state tribunal, a three-man led by Justice Wilfred Kpocha, with hearing resuming on January 27, 2025.
Challenging the outcome of the September 21,2024 governorship elections, the Chief petitioner, the People’s Democratic Party and its candidate Asue Ighodhalo, raised issues of Electoral non compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 and over voting.
Dismissing the petition, Justice Wilfred Kpochi led panel dismissed the petition for lacking i merit, noting that the petitioners failed to prove issues of non compliance and over voting.
Dissatisfied, the PDP and Ighodhalo, approached the Court of appeal challenging the appellate courts decision.
In a unanimous decision, the three man panel led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, held that the appeal was unmeritorious and dismissed it, affirming Okpebolor as winner of the September 21, 2024, election.
On this grounds, the aggrieved party approached the Supreme court, with five issues for determination.
While delivering judgment, the five man panel resolved four of the five issues in contention against Ighodalo, affirming that the appeal was unmeritorious and lacking in substance, while upholding the verdict of the Court of appeal.
Editor : Ena Agbanoma
