Edo State Election Drama: Tribunal Shuts Down PDP's Challenge

Breaking: Edo State Tribunal Slams the Door on PDP’s Election Challenge

Hey there, let me break it down for you. The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has just thrown out the case brought forward by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their candidate, Asue Ighodalo. They were trying to challenge the victory of Governor Monday Okpebholo. But guess what? The tribunal didn’t buy it. Let’s dive into the details.

What Did the PDP Argue?

According to Naija News, the PDP and their candidate, Asue Ighodalo, argued that the election was a mess. They claimed there were serious violations of the Electoral Act, including over-voting, which they believed invalidated the entire election process. It sounded like a strong case, right? Well, not so fast.

What Did the Tribunal Say?

Now, here’s where things get interesting. The tribunal leaned on some big Supreme Court precedents to make its decision. They said, listen up, even though there might have been some substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act, the burden of proof is entirely on the PDP and Ighodalo. It’s not something you can just shift to the other side, in this case, Governor Okpebholo and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

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And that’s not all. The tribunal also took a hard look at the claim that Governor Okpebholo wasn’t properly elected. After digging deep into the evidence, they found that there wasn’t enough to back up this accusation. In fact, the claims crumbled under scrutiny, leaving the PDP’s argument without much foundation.

The Final Nail in the Coffin

Here’s another key point. The tribunal also pointed out that the PDP and Asue Ighodalo didn’t call the polling unit agents for the INEC forms they submitted. This was a major mistake. Instead of properly presenting their case, it looked like they were just dumping documents on the tribunal, hoping something would stick. Unfortunately for them, that’s not how the legal system works.

So, there you have it. The tribunal has spoken, and the PDP’s challenge has been dismissed. It’s a big moment in Edo State politics, and it shows how important it is to have solid evidence and a well-prepared case when you’re challenging an election result.