Leaked Tribunal Judgment Emerges Ahead of Edo Governorship Verdict

A controversial document purportedly revealing the judgment of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has surfaced online, just a day before the official ruling is set to be announced....CONTINUE READING>>>

The tribunal, chaired by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, is scheduled to deliver its verdict on Wednesday. This follows an earlier decision to reserve judgment on March 3, 2025, in response to a petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo. The petition challenged the results of the September 21, 2024, governorship election.

According to the leaked documents, the panel reached a two-to-one decision. Justice Kpochi and Justice A.B. Yusuf reportedly ruled to dismiss the petition, while Justice A.A. Adewole issued a dissenting judgment in favor of Ighodalo.

In his minority ruling, Justice Adewole argued that the election failed to meet substantial compliance with the Electoral Act. He stated that evidence presented by the petitioners showed that Ighodalo actually secured 243,113 votes, while Governor Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had 210,326 votes, contrary to the official results.

“The petitioners’ case was not rebutted, and they showed unit by unit how the actual total should be 243,113 votes, while the 2nd Respondent’s tally should stand at 210,326 votes—a clear reversal of the declared result,” Justice Adewole stated in the leaked documents.

However, in the majority ruling, Justice Kpochi acknowledged electoral irregularities, including missing serial numbers in EC 25B forms and incidents of over-voting. Nevertheless, he concluded that these discrepancies were not enough to change the election outcome.

“The petitioners have not discharged the dual burden to the satisfaction of the law. Accordingly, the petition lacks merit and is hereby dismissed,” the majority judgment read.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had officially declared Governor Okpebholo the winner of the election with 291,667 votes, while Ighodalo polled 247,655 votes. Unhappy with the result, the PDP candidate approached the tribunal, alleging widespread non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022.

With the official judgment yet to be announced, the leaked documents have sparked widespread reactions, raising concerns about the transparency of the judicial process.