Edo Governorship Tribunal to Deliver Verdict on April 2, 2025

INEC Declared Okpebholo Winner, But Tribunal Decision Looms

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has set Wednesday, April 2, 2025, as the judgment date for the highly contested Edo State gubernatorial election. This decision comes months after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election, held in 2024.

Okpebholo defeated his closest rivals—Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP)—to secure victory. However, opposition parties challenged the outcome, leading to a legal battle that has now reached its final stage at the tribunal.

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Background: A Fiercely Contested Election

The Edo State governorship election was one of the most fiercely contested polls in recent years, with three major candidates vying for control of the state.

1. Monday Okpebholo (APC) – Backed by the federal ruling party, Okpebholo ran on a platform of economic revitalization, infrastructure development, and security reform.
2. Asue Ighodalo (PDP) – Representing the incumbent state government’s party, Ighodalo promised continuity, education sector reforms, and youth empowerment.
3. Olumide Akpata (LP) – A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Akpata positioned himself as the progressive alternative, focusing on justice, accountability, and grassroots development.

Despite INEC’s declaration of Okpebholo as the winner, Ighodalo and Akpata rejected the results, alleging irregularities in the electoral process. Their petitions claimed that the election was marred by vote suppression, overvoting, and discrepancies in results collation.

The Legal Battle: Key Arguments at the Tribunal

Following the election results announcement, both PDP and LP filed separate petitions before the Election Tribunal, calling for either a cancellation of the results or a reversal in their favor.

1. PDP’s Argument

The PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, and his legal team argued that:

• The election was not free and fair due to alleged vote suppression in PDP strongholds.
• INEC failed to properly transmit results electronically, leading to manipulation of figures in certain polling units.
• There were cases of ballot box snatching and intimidation of voters by political thugs.

2. LP’s Argument

Similarly, Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party raised concerns over:

• Disenfranchisement of voters, particularly in urban areas where LP had strong support.
• INEC’s alleged failure to comply with the Electoral Act, especially in areas where votes were annulled.
• Alleged collusion between election officials and APC agents to influence results.

3. APC’s Defense

In response to the allegations, the APC and Okpebholo’s legal team countered that:

• The election was conducted fairly, with only minor irregularities that did not affect the outcome.
• The petitioners failed to provide substantial evidence of rigging or vote manipulation.
• The opposition parties only challenged results in areas where they lost, ignoring areas where they won.

What to Expect on April 2

As the tribunal prepares to deliver its judgment, political analysts believe there are three possible outcomes:

1. The tribunal upholds Okpebholo’s victory, affirming INEC’s results and dismissing the petitions.
2. The tribunal nullifies the election, ordering a fresh governorship poll in Edo State.
3. The tribunal declares a new winner, based on evidence that suggests a different candidate legitimately won the election.

Legal experts suggest that proving election malpractices beyond reasonable doubt is often difficult in court. However, if the tribunal finds that INEC’s processes were compromised, it could nullify the election results and call for a rerun.

Political Reactions Ahead of the Judgment

APC’s Confidence

The APC and its supporters have expressed confidence that the tribunal will uphold Okpebholo’s mandate. An APC spokesperson recently stated:

“We are confident that the court will uphold the will of the Edo people. This election was free, fair, and credible.”

PDP and LP’s Optimism

On the other hand, both PDP and LP have continued to insist that the election was flawed. A PDP official remarked:

“We believe that justice will be served. The people of Edo State were denied their true choice, and we trust the judiciary to correct this injustice.”

Similarly, an LP representative said:

“This is not just about the Labour Party but about democracy. We will accept the tribunal’s decision, but we expect fairness.”

Security Measures in Place for Judgment Day

Given the high stakes of this tribunal ruling, security agencies have been placed on high alert in Edo State. Authorities have warned against post-judgment violence, urging political parties and supporters to accept the verdict peacefully.

The Edo State Police Command has announced that security will be tightened around the tribunal premises on April 2, with patrol teams deployed across major cities to prevent any potential unrest.

What Comes Next?

Regardless of the tribunal’s decision, the legal battle may not end on April 2. If the tribunal rules against PDP or LP, they could take their case to the Court of Appeal, extending the dispute for several more months.

Conversely, if the tribunal nullifies Okpebholo’s victory, it could trigger fresh elections, leading to another round of intense political campaigns in Edo State.

For now, Edo residents and political stakeholders await April 2, 2025, as the Election Petition Tribunal delivers its long-anticipated judgment.