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Tag: Edo tribunal

  • JUST IN: Edo Tribunal dismisses Accord Party’s petition against Okpebholo’s election

    JUST IN: Edo Tribunal dismisses Accord Party’s petition against Okpebholo’s election

    The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has dismissed the petition filed by the Accord Party (AP) against the declaration of Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Party (APC) as winners of the September 21, 2024 governorship poll in Edo State. 

    In its second judgment on Wednesday, the tribunal, sitting in Abuja held that the petitioners – AP and its candidate in the election, Bright Enabulele – failed to establish their claims with sufficient evidence as required.

    The tribunal noted that the petitioners made weight allegations of thuggery, ballots stuffing, harassing and voters’ molestation, but failed to name a single perpetrator. 

    It further noted that the same petitioners, who sought to be declared winners of the election, claimed that the election was conducted without compliance with the Electoral Act. 

    The tribunal held that there was no meaningful evidence for it to act upon to nullify the election of Okpebholo and APC and subsequently dismissed the petition in its entirety. 

    Details shortly…

  • BREAKING: Edo Tribunal dismisses AA’s petition against Gov Okpebholo

    BREAKING: Edo Tribunal dismisses AA’s petition against Gov Okpebholo

    The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja on Wednesday dismissed the petition filed by the Action Alliance (AA) seeking to nullify Governor Monday Okpebholo’s election.

    A three-member panel led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi ruled that the petition, filed alongside AA’s National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, lacked merit.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Edo Gov election tribunal set to deliver judgement

    The tribunal stated that the case revolved around pre-election matters, which were beyond its jurisdiction.

    The petitioners had alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) unlawfully excluded their rightful candidate from the September 21, 2024, governorship election. 

    They also claimed that INEC disregarded court rulings by recognising a candidate who was not validly nominated by the party.

    Details shortly…

  • Edo election dispute: Tribunal reserves judgment

    Edo election dispute: Tribunal reserves judgment

    …Ighodalo, Okpebholo make final submissions 

    …PDP candidate, Senator Oshiomhole attend proceedings 

    The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, on Monday reversed judgment in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the September 21, 2024 gubernatorial election held in the state, challenging the outcome of the election.

    PDP and Ighodalo are, in their petition, querying the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the election, which they claimed was marred by irregularities.

    Shortly after lawyers to parties adopted their written addresses and made final submissions on Monday, the three-man tribunal, headed by Justice Wilfred Kpochi announced that the date for judgment would be communicated to them.

    Lawyer to the petitioners, Ken Mozia (SAN), in his final submission, contended that his clients have successfully demonstrated electoral malpractices in 765 polling units out of 4,519 across the state. 

    He noted discrepancies at various collation levels, where figures on Form EC8A (polling unit results) were allegedly reduced at the ward and local government collation stages (EC8B). 

    The petitioners’ lawyer added that INEC certified all documents tendered by the petitioners, but failed to present any counter-evidence.

    He said: “The issue is not about producing an alternative result, but about questioning the validity of the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal uploads.”

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    Mozia argued that election petitions should be determined by the impact of irregularities on the process, not just the percentage of affected polling units.

    He then prayed the tribunal to grant all the reliefs in the petition, including the voiding of Okpebholo’s victory.

    Lawyer to INEC, Kanu Agabi (SAN) argued that the petition lacked merit, arguing that the tribunal can not annul the election because that is not the relief sought by the petitioners

    Agabi also argued that the tribunal cannot declare that the petitioners are the winners of the election in the light of their assertion that the election is invalid.

    He contended that the ground of non-compliance pleaded by the petitioners is not accompanied by the appropriate consequential relief which would have been for the annulment of the election, adding that that ground is incompetent.

    Agabi argued that the number of polling unit agents invited as witnesses by the petitioners are insignificant to represent the number of polling units in Edo State.

    He claimed that the case of the petitioners is founded on analysis of documents and not what happened on the field on the date of the election.

    Lawyer to Okpebholo, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), described the petition as an “academic exercise,” arguing that the documents tendered by the petitioners, including Forms EC25B and EC40A were “dumped in the court” without proper demonstration of their relevance.

    He urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition.

    Lawyer to the APC,  Emmanuel Ukala (SAN) made similar arguments and prayed the tribunal to reject the petition.

    Reacting to the days, proceedings, a PDP chieftain in Edo State, Ogbeide Ifaluyi-Isibor, expressed satisfaction with the proceedings, adding that the petitioners are confident of a positive outcome.

    Ifaluyi-Isibor noted that the testimonies of the petitioners’ witnesses aligned with their claims, particularly concerning allegations of over-voting and incorrect collation of results in several polling units. 

    He argued that the number of witnesses presented does not always determine the strength of an election petition, citing Supreme Court decisions that place greater weight on the substance of evidence rather than the volume of testimonies.

    He added: “The petitioners are pleased with the proceedings of the court so far. Our counsel effectively demonstrated that testimonies given by witnesses were in consonance with our prayers.

    “We are contesting results in 756 polling units out of over 4,000 in the state. Our arguments before the tribunal were clear, and we believe that we have sufficiently substantiated our claims,” he added.

    Equally reacting, former APC National Chairman and ex-governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole said he was not convinced that the petitioners did enough to warrant the cancellation of the election.

    Oshiomhole, who witnessed the tribunal’s proceedings on Monday, argued that “It is the duty of the petitioners to prove their allegations beyond doubt.

    “I am satisfied with how the hearing went, but only the tribunal can determine the outcome.”

    The PDP candidate, Ighodalo, who also witnessed the proceedings, declined to comment when approached by journalists.

  • Edo tribunal relocates to Abuja

    Edo tribunal relocates to Abuja

    The Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led, three-member Edo governorship election petitions tribunal, which sat on Friday at Edo High Court Complex on Sapele Road, Benin, has relocated to Abuja, for undisclosed reasons.

    The late night’s notice of relocation was signed by the Secretary to the tribunal, Mu’azu Ibrahim Bagudu.

    The tribunal’s secretary said: “I am directed to notify all parties that the governorship election petitions tribunal, sitting in Benin City, Edo State, has been relocated to Abuja at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Airport Road, Abuja, effective from Monday, January 27, 2025. For further inquiry, contact the secretary on 08037200013. Thank you.”

    Justice Kpochi, at Friday’s s sitting, adjourned till January 28, 2025 for further hearing in the petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its standard bearer in Edo, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, who was inaugurated Governor on November 12, 2024.

    Seven of 18 political parties that participated in the election, which filed petitions at the tribunal, were the PDP, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Accord (A), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and Action Alliance (AA), which wanted their candidates to be declared winner of the keenly-contested poll, instead of Okpebholo.

    At the sitting of the tribunal, there was adjournment of the cross-examination of PDP’s star witness, Mr. Oseyili Anenih, a son of the party’s former Chairman of its Board of Trustees (BOT), the late Chief Tony Anenih, till January 28, 2025, at the instance of the respondents’ counsel.

    Moving an oral application during the tribunal’s proceedings, the lead counsel to the first respondent, Kanu Agabi, SAN, prayed the tribunal for adjournment to enable the respondents to have enough time to cross-examine the petitioners’ star witness.

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    He was supported by the second and third respondents’ lead counsel, Dr. Onyeachi Ikpeazu, SAN, and Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, who argued that the petitioners’ counsel spent over three hours in leading the witness in evidence.

    The lead counsel to the petitioners, Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN, while opposing the respondents’ applications, prayed the tribunal to refuse the application on the ground that the documents referred to by the witness were not strange to the respondents.

    The tribunal, however, refused the submission of Oyeyipo, and grated the request of counsel to the respondents, thereby adjourning till January 28.

  • Drama at Edo tribunal as PDP, Ighodalo’s witnesses flop

    Drama at Edo tribunal as PDP, Ighodalo’s witnesses flop

    The Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led, three-member Edo governorship election petitions tribunal witnessed mild drama when the first two of the witnesses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate during the September 21, 2024 election Dr Asue Ighodalo flopped under cross examination.

    The first witness from Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo stunned the tribunal when he testified that he was neither an agent at any of the polling units or wards nor directly involved in the electoral process. 

    He claimed his role was limited to merely observing and examining the results in a situation room, thereby raising questions about the accuracy and credibility of the evidence he presented.

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    He confirmed signing two statements on oath dated October 11, 2024, and November 16, 2024, and clarified his involvement was limited to overseeing results at the situation room, which was not located at the collation centre. 

    Under cross-examination, the first witness also admitted that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) materials were not available for inspection in the situation room.

    The second witness from Akoko-Edo LGA claimed that he was not a polling unit or ward agent but managed to coordinate all the results from 241 polling units and ten wards in a single day, while admitting that he was not involved in the actual collation of results of the poll, but only supervised and compiled reports from agents.

    Seven of 18 political parties that participated in the election, which filed petitions at the tribunal, were the PDP, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Accord (A), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and Action Alliance (AA), which wanted their candidates to be declared winner of the keenly-contested poll, instead of Okpebholo of APC.

  • PDP, Ighodalo tender more documents at Edo tribunal

    PDP, Ighodalo tender more documents at Edo tribunal

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Edo chapter and its governorship candidate at the September 21, 2024 election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, have tendered more documents at the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led, three-member election petitions tribunal.

    PDP and Ighodalo at the weekend tendered over 1,000 documents at the tribunal.

    The counsel to the petitioners (PDP and Ighodalo), Ken. Mozia, SAN, tendered 55 Certified True Copies (CTCs) of polling units voter registers used in the election, CTC  of 56 accreditation figures of extracts from the independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and 72 CTCs of extracts of accreditation figures from the BVAS.

    Mozia also tendered 75 CTCs of INEC’s results’ viewing, containing form EC8A and 70 CTCs’ of INEC’s polling units booklets, containing form EC25B, as well as 66 copies of polling units voter register and 125 CTCs of form EC8A from IREV.

    The petitioners’ counsel also tendered CTCs of certificates of compliance with BIVAS report, in respect of the 133 polling units earlier tendered as exhibits, and CTCs of serial numbers of BIVAS deployed in 133 polling units.

    Read Also: Edo Tribunal: Asue Ighodalo reaffirms confidence in judiciary 

    The counsel to the respondents (INEC, Governor Monday Okpebholo and All Progressives Congress), Abdullahi Aliyu, SAN, Offiong Offiong, SAN, and Chief Ferdinand Orbih, SAN, respectively, however, raised objections to the admissibility of the petitioners’ documents, but they promised to give their reasons at the address stage.

    Seven of 18 political parties that participated in the election, which filed petitions at the tribunal, were the PDP, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Accord (A), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and Action Alliance (AA).

  • Again, thugs attempt to disrupt Edo tribunal’s sitting

    Again, thugs attempt to disrupt Edo tribunal’s sitting

    Heavily-armed thugs yesterday again attempted to disrupt the sitting of Edo State governorship election petitions tribunal at the state’s High Court Complex on Sapele Road, Benin, as they did on Wednesday, but were repelled by security operatives.

     The desperate thugs yesterday tried to force themselves into the venue of the sitting of Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member Edo tribunal, but were resisted by the security personnel.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate in the September 21, 2024 Edo governorship election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, yesterday opened their case by tendering over one thousand documents, in support of their petition, alleging that the poll that was won by Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was marred by irregularities.

    Read Also: Edo Tribunal: Asue Ighodalo reaffirms confidence in judiciary 

     PDP and Ighodalo claimed that they scored the highest number of valid votes cast during the keenly-contested election, while their lead counsel, Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN, tendered Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the documents and forms in support of the petition.

     Lead counsel of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),  Okpebholo and APC (first to third respondents), Kanu Agabi, SAN, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, SAN, and D.C. Denwigwe, SAN, who held the brief of Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, objected to the admissibility of the documents. They said  they would give reasons for their objection at the final-address stage.

     Hearing in PDP and Ighodalo’s petition would continue today (Saturday), with the petitioners likely to tender more documents.

  • Edo Tribunal: Asue Ighodalo reaffirms confidence in judiciary 

    Edo Tribunal: Asue Ighodalo reaffirms confidence in judiciary 

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, has expressed gratitude to the people of Edo State and reaffirmed his confidence in the judiciary as the tribunal proceedings over the disputed September 2024 governorship election gain momentum.

    Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse on Wednesday, Ighodalo addressed concerns raised by supporters and condemned attempts to intimidate those involved in the legal process.

    “We strongly believe that the judiciary will do the right thing, and we’re looking forward to the outcome of the tribunal,” he said.

    “Our focus remains reclaiming our mandate and working positively for the good people of Edo State. We will take poverty out of our land, eliminate fear and intimidation, and unlock the great potential of this state.”

    Ighodalo also commended the resilience and steadfastness of Edo citizens over the past three months.

    He said: “I want to thank the good people of Edo State for coming out in massive numbers to vote for us on September 21 and for keeping faith through the difficulties. 

    “They’ve stayed calm in the face of intimidation and harassment, living on the strong hope that our efforts to reclaim our mandate will be successful.”

    However, the candidate also highlighted a series of alarming incidents that have marred the tribunal proceedings, including an attack by a masked gunman outside the courthouse. 

    “These acts of violence and harassment are deliberate distractions meant to make us take our eyes off the ball,” Barr. Ighodalo said.

    I would be recalled that shortly before the tribunal session began on Wednesday, panic erupted outside the courthouse when unidentified individual opened fire near the tribunal venue.

    Read Also: APC chair to PDP, Ighodalo: no mandate was stolen

    Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, Chairman of the PDP’s Edo Caretaker Committee, condemned the incidents. 

    For Ighodalo, the incidents underscore the importance of staying focused.

     “There are many distractions being thrown our way, but we will not be deterred,” he told reporters. 

    “Our goal remains ensuring that we go through this tribunal process and hopefully emerge with the mandate the people of Edo State gave my deputy Osarodion Ogie and myself.”

    He painted a hopeful vision for the future of the state under his leadership. 

    “We will take Edo State to the next level. By God’s grace, we will remove poverty, eliminate intimidation, and make our people happy,” Ighodalo said.

    “We urge our people to stay strong and prayerful,” Ighodalo concluded. “By the grace of God, we will reclaim our mandate and deliver the change that Edo state deserves.”

  • Edo Tribunal adjourns proceedings to January 15 

    Edo Tribunal adjourns proceedings to January 15 

    The Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has adjourned its proceedings until January 15, citing a conflicting matter scheduled for hearing at the Supreme Court.  

    The adjournment followed an application submitted by the lead counsel representing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, who are the first and second respondents in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, over the September 21, 2024 election.  

    The Assistant Secretary to the Tribunal, Dayo Dahunsi, explained that the request for adjournment was due to the lead counsel’s obligation to appear before the apex court on January 14 for a matter slated for a definite hearing.  

    Reading the letter of adjournment, Dahunsi noted: “The application for adjournment is premised on the fact that the counsel to the second respondent has a matter scheduled at the Supreme Court on January 14, 2025.”  

    The Tribunal will resume proceedings immediately after the counsel’s Supreme Court engagement. 

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    “We kindly request the indulgence of this honourable tribunal and confirm that all counsel and parties involved have been duly served via e-mail and WhatsApp.” 

    While reacting to the application, Oladipo Oshinowo, who held the brief for the lead counsel to the petitioners, Ken Mozia, SAN, stated that he was not opposing the application, in the spirit of cooperation. 

    Oshinowo said: “On behalf of the petitioners, we are prepared to commence the trial on January 14, 2025. However, the letter for adjournment was submitted to our lead counsel by the registry late yesterday (January 12), wherein the first and second respondents are seeking an adjournment, but did not include a hearing notice for the Supreme Court matter referenced. 

    “Nevertheless, in the spirit of cooperation and fairness, we reluctantly concede to the request, on the condition that no further adjournment requests will be made by the respondents, in the interest of justice and equity.” 

    Counsel to the All Progressives Congress (the third respondent), Josephine Ogagaworia, did not object to the application. 

    The Chairman of the three-member tribunal, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, then adjourned until tomorrow (Wednesday) for the hearing of the petition. 

    It will be recalled that during the December 9, 2024, inaugural sitting of the tribunal at the Edo High Court Complex on Sapele Road, Benin, many thugs stormed the venue, with some politicians and their supporters attacked and pelted with stones and other dangerous weapons. 

    Numerous colourfully dressed members of the APC and supporters of Okpebholo were at the venue of the tribunal’s sitting when the thugs suddenly invaded the area and injured some persons. 

    The rowdy situation was quickly brought under control by vigilant and fully armed security operatives as the tribunal’s sitting was ongoing during the thugs’ invasion of the court complex. 

    The Edo governorship election was won by Okpebholo, who was inaugurated on November 12 last year. 

    Seven of the 18 political parties that participated in the election and filed petitions at the tribunal were the PDP, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Accord (A), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and Action Alliance (AA), which sought their candidates to be declared winners of the keenly contested poll.

  • Thugs invade Edo tribunal’s inaugural sitting

    Thugs invade Edo tribunal’s inaugural sitting

    Suspected thugs yesterday stormed the venue of the inaugural sitting of the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal at Edo State High Court Complex on Sapele Road, Benin.

    All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) politicians and their supporters were attacked and pelted with stones and other dangerous items by yet-to-be-identified suspected thugs.

    Members of the APC and supporters of Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo were at the venue of the tribunal’s sitting, when suspected hoodlums suddenly invaded the area and injured some persons.

    The rowdy situation was quickly brought under control by the vigilant and fully-armed security operatives.

    The sitting of Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member tribunal went on during the suspected thugs’ invasion.

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    Justice Kpochi called for cooperation of all parties, towards a smooth and successful trial, and urged the counsel to exercise mutual respect between the bar and the bench.

    The tribunal chairman asked politicians and their supporters to maintain decorum during proceedings to hear the seven petitions from the results of the September 21 governorship election won by Okpebholo, who was inaugurated on November 12.

    Seven of the 18 parties that participated in the election, who filed the petitions were Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Accord (A), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Action Alliance (AA). They wanted their candidates to be declared winner of the poll.