The fallout from the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal’s judgment in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Monday Okpebholo, is far from over. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the ruling and vowed to challenge it at the Court of Appeal, alleging it is a judicial endorsement of electoral fraud.
PDP: “A Travesty of Justice”
In a statement issued in Abuja, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, PDP Chairman in Edo State, described the judgment as “a travesty that elevated technicalities above justice.” He criticized the tribunal for allegedly acting as a “fourth respondent” rather than an impartial arbiter.
“We are proceeding to the Court of Appeal with the facts, the law, and the will of the Edo people firmly on our side,” — Dr. Aziegbemi
The PDP had alleged that INEC manipulated the process to favour the APC by deploying fake result sheets and disregarding its own electoral guidelines.
Forensic Evidence Ignored?
Anthony Ehilebo, Special Adviser on Media to the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, expressed dismay at the tribunal’s failure to consider critical forensic evidence.
“Tap Initiative’s audit showed many result sheets appeared to be filled by a single hand, but the judgment ignored this. Meanwhile, INEC’s IReV portal still shows the authentic results,” Ehilebo said.
Despite the tribunal ruling, Okpebholo has extended an olive branch to Ighodalo, calling for unity in building Edo State. However, PDP leaders dismissed the gesture as “premature.”
“There can be no peace without justice,” said PDP stalwart Goodluck Osaretin. “What happened was a stolen mandate. We are determined to retrieve it through the courts.”
LP’s Olumide Akpata: Why I Didn’t Challenge the Result
Meanwhile, Olumide Akpata, former NBA President and the Labour Party (LP) candidate in the election, has explained his decision not to challenge the result in court.
“My decision not to approach the tribunal is not a capitulation to injustice but a resolute stand against a flawed system,” Akpata said.
He decried Nigeria’s legal process for election petitions, saying it places an almost insurmountable burden of proof on petitioners.
Akpata, who came third with 22,763 votes, maintained that engaging in a long legal battle would only serve to legitimise a compromised process.
While APC’s Okpebholo has been declared the winner by INEC, the battle for Edo’s governorship is far from over. The PDP’s move to challenge the verdict at the Court of Appeal means the political drama in Edo State is set to continue.
