Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has dismissed the Accord Party’s petition challenging the victory of Monday Okpebholo and the All Progressives Congress in the September 21, 2024 election.
The three-member tribunal ruled on Wednesday that the Accord Party and its candidate failed to prove their claims beyond reasonable doubt, and that their petition lacked merit and was not supported by facts.
It upheld all the preliminary objections challenging the competence of the petition and refused to annul the election or order a fresh governorship poll in the state.
It also ruled that the first petitioner had no legal standing to file the case.
Accord Party had asked the tribunal to annul the election and order a fresh one, arguing that Okpebholo did not win the highest number of valid votes.
They also alleged electoral fraud, non-compliance with the Electoral Act, and irregularities like multiple thumbprinting, violence and intimidation.
But, the tribunal found that the petitioners failed to provide evidence specifying the polling units or wards where these alleged issues occurred.
In a unanimous decision, the tribunal declared: “This petition is hereby struck out for incompetence and lack of jurisdiction.”
With this ruling, the tribunal has now dismissed two petitions against Okpebholo’s victory and is set to proceed with the joint petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who are seeking to be declared the rightful winners of the election.