The ongoing legal battle regarding the September 21st governorship election in Edo State, the state’s election petition tribunal convened on Saturday, January 18, 2025, to consider the petition filed by Ighodalo Akintunde Asuelimen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Asuelimen is challenging the election victory of Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The tribunal, operating under petition number EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, is tasked with reviewing the claims brought against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other respondents involved in the contentious election process.

During the proceedings, the tribunal provisionally admitted a plethora of documents submitted by the petitioners, a step viewed as crucial in validating their claims.

Counsel for the petitioners outlined the verification process undertaken by all parties prior to the submission of diverse documents as evidence, despite facing objections from the opposing respondents. These objections were noted, with the respondents opting to reserve their arguments for the final written addresses, indicating a protracted legal battle ahead.

The tribunal’s provisional admission of these extensive documents is one step for the petitioners, albeit with the understanding that further conditions may be imposed before these documents are fully accepted as part of the case record. The evidence presented included a total of over 70 exhibits from various local government areas, along with multiple forms and booklets that are critical to substantiating the petitioners’ claims.

Among the documents provisionally admitted were:
1. Certified True Copies (CTCs) of Forms EC8B from various wards across Akoko Edo, Egor, Esan Central, Esan North East, and Esan South East.
2. Forms EC8EL and EC8D, marked as Exhibits PA1 and PA2.
3. CTCs of Form EC8D from 18 polling units, designated as Exhibits PA3-PA20.
4. An extensive array of 320 copies of polling unit forms EC8A, admitted as Exhibit PCA1-PCA320.
5. 58 CTCs of Form EC8A obtained from INEC’s IREV portal, marked as Exhibits BDA1-BDA58.
6. 308 CTC polling unit booklets containing Form BC25B, noted as Exhibits PCB1-PCB308.

The atmosphere at the tribunal on Saturday was notably charged, with heightened security measures in place as armed Police and other security operatives ensured a secure environment, reflecting the increasing tensions surrounding the tribunal’s sessions leading up to this point.

The extended hearing on Saturday was indicative of the tribunal’s commitment to thoroughly addressing the substantial evidential submissions made by Ighodalo Akintunde Asuelimen and his legal team.

Following the extensive examination of the documents, the tribunal adjourned, scheduling its next session for Monday, January 20, 2025.

This upcoming session promises to be pivotal as the tribunal continues to navigate the complexities of the case and the implications it holds for the political landscape of Edo State.

All eyes will be on the tribunal as it picks up where it left off, amidst a charged atmosphere and a community eager for resolution.

Senator Ned Nwoko has announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The move, confirmed through reliable sources, has sparked discussions within political circles about its potential implications for the 2027 elections.

According to reports, Senator Nwoko’s decision to join the APC is influenced by speculation that former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is eyeing a Senate seat in the next electoral cycle.

This development is said to have prompted the senator to reconsider his political alliances, aligning with a party that may better support his future ambitions.

Senator Nwoko, who has been a prominent figure in Delta State politics and a key member of the PDP, is known for his strong advocacy for developmental projects and his stance on national unity.

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21, 2024 Edo State governorship election, Dr Asue Ighodalo on Friday, opened his case challenging the victory of Sen. Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by tendering over 1000 documents used in the election, in support of his petition.

Ighodalo and th PDP in a petition marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024 are contesting Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration of Okpebholo, winner of the election alleging that there were irregularities during the exercise.

Ighodalo claimed that he scored the highest valid votes and not Okpebholo and wondered why the INEC would declare him the winner.

When hearing resumes on Friday, the Lead counsel to the Petitioners, Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN, tendered from the bar Certified True Copy (CTC) of Form EC8E which is the INEC’s final declaration result sheet of the poll in support of the petitioners’ cases.

Kenneth Mozia, who conducted the presentations at the instance of Oyeyipo also tendered CTC of Form EC8D; the summary of results from Local Government Areas Collation at the State Level.

Other documents tenders were Certified True Copies of Form EC8Cs, covering the 18 Local Government Areas in the state, CTC of Forms EC8B (Wards Results Sheets) used for the conduct of the election in the 192 Wards in the state were also tendered by Mozia, all in support of the petitioner’s cases.

The petitioners further tendered in evidence 320 Certified True Copies of Form EC8A documents (polling Units results sheets),

While presenting before the court 318 CTCs of INEC’s Polling Units Booklets, each containing Form EC25D, Mozia, again, tendered in court 58 CTCs of Form EC8A (IREV).

Reacting, counsel to INEC, Governor Monday Okpebholo and APC (1st to 3rd 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

The respondent’s counsel told the court that they would be abducing reasons for their objections to the petitioners’ CTC documents at the final address stage of the petition.

Justice Wilfred Kpochi led the tribunal in response provisionally admitted all the documents tendered in evidence and marked the same as exhibits.

“Learned counsel to the respondents shall state their reasons for their objections at the address stage”, Justice Kpochi held.

Hearing on the petition continues tomorrow, Saturday, December 18, 2024 as the petitioners are expected to tender more documents in support of their petitions.