BY ANTHONY OCHELA, ABUJA
Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Monday reserved judgment in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Mr Asue Ighodalo, challenging the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressive Congress(APC).
The Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member tribunal reserved judgment in the matter after counsels of all parties adopted their final written addresses.
Justice Kpochi said a date for judgment would be communicated to parties by the trubunal’s Secretary.
Justice Kpochi had on Thursday February 13 fixed March 3 for parties to adopt their final written addresses in the matter.
This was after the APC, which is the 3rd respondent in the petition, closed its case after four witnesses gave testimony to substantiate its claim of victory at the poll.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), which is the first respondent in the petition, had declared Gov. Okpebholo of the APC winner of the election held September 21, 2024.
Disagreeing with the development, the PDP and its governorship candidate, Mr. Ighodalo, approached the tribunal, praying it to nullify INEC’s declaration of the APC and Okpebholo as winners of the election.
The petitioners contended that the governorship election was invalid by reason of alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act.
They equally argued in the petition marked: EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, that Okpebholo did not secure the highest number of lawful votes that were cast at the polls.
The petitioners called 19 witnesses to prove that over-voting and wrong computation of votes occurred in over 700 polling units during the election.
INEC, as the 1st respondent, did not call any witnesses but tendered 153 Bimodal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) used in 133 polling units where results were being disputed.
Okpebholo, as the 2nd respondent called a lone witness while the APC called four witnesses.
