A leaked document, allegedly containing the judgment of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, has surfaced online, sparking controversy and speculation just hours before the official ruling is set to be delivered.
The unsigned document, which carries the case number of the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, against Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), emerged less than 24 hours before the tribunal’s scheduled verdict on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
Tribunal Set to Deliver Verdict.
The tribunal, chaired by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, will rule on three petitions challenging Okpebholo’s victory in the September 21, 2024, governorship election. The PDP and Ighodalo are contesting the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to declare Okpebholo the winner, alleging widespread irregularities and non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022.
INEC had declared Okpebholo the winner with 291,667 votes, while Ighodalo secured 247,655 votes. However, the PDP argues that the results from 133 polling units were flawed. As part of their evidence, the party subpoenaed INEC to produce 148 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, which were admitted by the tribunal on January 31.
The three-member tribunal had reserved its judgment on March 3 after all parties presented their final arguments. The ruling will cover three petitions marked EPT/ED/GOV/01/2024, EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, and EPT/ED/GOV/03/2024.
Leaked Judgment Suggests Split Decision.
The leaked document, which has fueled widespread debate, reportedly shows a split judgment among the tribunal’s justices. According to the document, Justices Wilfred Kpochi and A. B. Yusuf upheld Okpebholo’s election, while Justice A. A. Adewole dissented in favor of Ighodalo.
The majority ruling, as per the document, acknowledged electoral irregularities but concluded that they were not substantial enough to alter the election outcome. Citing Supreme Court precedents, Justices Kpochi and Yusuf ruled that the margin of victory remained unaffected despite observed discrepancies.
However, Justice Adewole dissented, claiming that a review of valid votes showed Ighodalo had actually polled 243,113 votes, compared to Okpebholo’s 210,326 votes. He reportedly declared the election invalid due to non-compliance with electoral laws and directed INEC to issue a fresh Certificate of Return to Ighodalo.
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Uncertainty Over the Final Verdict.
With the official judgment yet to be delivered, the leaked document has stirred intense debate, leaving many questioning its authenticity. While some believe it may be a draft of the final ruling, others suspect it could be a deliberate attempt to influence public perception ahead of the tribunal’s decision.
As anticipation builds, all eyes remain on the tribunal’s official announcement, which will ultimately determine the fate of the disputed Edo governorship election.
