Edo Tribunal Declines To Nullify Gov Okpebholos Election

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, declined to nullify the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

In a unanimous decision, a three-member panel of the tribunal led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, equally refused to order the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct a fresh governorship poll in Edo state.

The tribunal held that the prayer, which was contained in a petition that was brought before it by the Accord Party, AP, and its gubernatorial candidate in the state, could not be granted as the petitioners failed to discharge the burden of proof placed on them by the law.

While striking out the petition for being incompetent, the panel noted that whereas the petitioners alleged that the governorship election held in the state on September 21, 2024, was invalid by reason of corrupt practices and non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, they, however, failed to adduce any credible evidence to establish the allegation.