By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja
The Edo state governorship election tribunal, sitting in Abuja, Monday, reserved judgement on a petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and it’s governorship candidate, Mr Asue Ighodalo challenging the the Sept. 21, 2024 governorship election in the state.
The petitioners are before the tribunal, praying it to void the outcome of the governorship election on the grounds of alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022.
Specifically, they submitted that Okpebholo did not secure the highest number of majority votes cast in that election.
The three-man panel, chaired by Justice Wilfred Kpochi reserved the judgment on a date that will be communicated to the parties after counsel in the matter adopted their final written addresses.
At the resumed hearing of the matter, counsel to the petitioners, Mr Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN told the tribunal that the business of the day was for adoption of final written addresses.
Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Mr Kanu Agabi, SAN proceeded to adopt the final address of his client and prayed the tribunal to dismiss the petition for lacking in merit.
According to Agabi, the tribunal can not annul the Sept. 21, 2024 governorship election because it was not one of the reliefs sought by the petitioners.
He maintained that the tribunal could not declare the petitioners as winners of that election in the light of their own assertion that the election was invalid.
On the claim of non-compliance raised by the petitioners, Agabi said it was weak as it was not accompanied by the appropriate relief which was nullification of election.
He also said that the claim of majority of lawful votes pleaded by the petitioners could not avail them since their other claim was that the election was invalid.
He also argued that the number of polling unit agents called as witnesses represented an insignificant or even negligible per cent of the number of polling units in Edo.
Another ground that INEC prayed the tribunal to dismiss the petition based on was that all the polling unit agents called as witnesses signed the result sheet and they could not distinguish between what they heard and what they saw.
“This is a clear indication that the election was conducted in compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022.
“The results were duly collated at all levels of collation.
“The petitioners have not pleaded any alternative results on the basis of which they can be declared as winners.”
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