By Ayomide Otitoju
The Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has reserved judgment in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, challenging the results of the recent state governorship election.
The three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, made the decision after legal counsels for all parties involved presented their final written addresses. Justice Kpochi stated that the date for the judgment will be communicated to the parties by the tribunal’s secretary.
During the proceedings, counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Kanu Agabi, urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition, arguing that the petitioners had not requested an annulment of the election. Agabi also noted that the number of polling unit agents presented as witnesses was insignificant compared to the total number of polling units in Edo.
On the other hand, counsel for Governor Godwin Obaseki, Onyechi Ikpeazu, asked the tribunal to dismiss the petition, describing it as an academic exercise. Ikpeazu argued that his client had a clear lead over the petitioners based on the evidence presented.
The petitioners’ lawyer, Ken Moze, countered that their complaint concerned 765 polling units and that successful election petitions are based on the effect of the alleged issues, not the percentage of polling units involved.
The tribunal has yet to set a date for its ruling.
