Edo tribunal reserves rulings on ADP, ZLP petitions challenging Okpebholo’s victory

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Benin City, on Thursday reserved its rulings on motions challenging the declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo as the winner of the September 21, 2024, governorship election.

The petitions, filed by Mr. Akhimie Kingston Afeare of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) and Bishop Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), are contesting the conduct and outcome of the election.

The petitioners, identified as EPT/ED/GOV/06/2024 and EPT/ED/GOV/07/2024, name the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Governor Okpebholo, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the first, second, and third respondents respectively.

During Thursday’s proceedings, the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member tribunal reserved rulings on the motions, indicating they would be addressed during the judgment stage of the main petitions. This followed the adoption of written briefs and affidavits by legal representatives of all parties involved.

Counsel for the applicants, Senior Advocates of Nigeria Abdullahi Aliyu, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, and Emmanuel Ukala, urged the tribunal to grant their motions and the reliefs sought therein.

However, counsel for the petitioners, Wisdom Isaac, countered by requesting the tribunal dismiss the motions, describing them as lacking merit and arguing they should “be confined to the dustbin of history.”

Similarly, the tribunal reserved its rulings on applications filed by INEC, Okpebholo, and the APC, which challenge the competence of petitions submitted by candidates from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Anerua Abdulai Aliu and others.

In this instance, counsel for the respondents and petitioners also presented and adopted their briefs and affidavits, with Justice Kpochi adjourning further consideration of the motions.

The tribunal announced it would issue a pre-hearing report for the cases on Monday, January 20, while also adjourning hearing in a separate petition filed by Accord Party candidate, Dr. Bright Enabulele.

When Enabulele’s case was called, his counsel, Joel Tagher, requested an adjournment, citing the illness of one of his last witnesses and the absence of another who was under subpoena.

The respondents did not oppose the request, and Justice Kpochi granted the adjournment, scheduling the continuation of the hearing for Tuesday, January 21.

The reserved rulings and adjournments underscore the complex legal battle surrounding the Edo State governorship election and the challenges to Governor Okpebholo’s victory.