₦airaland Forum

*Courtroom Drama as Final Written Addresses Adopted in Edo Election Petition*

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal convened today to adopt final written addresses in the petition filed by Dr. Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenging the declaration of Sen. Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the 2024 governorship election.

The packed courtroom reflected the high stakes of the proceedings, with Dr. Asue Ighodalo in attendance alongside PDP Edo State Chairman, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemin, Sen. Clifford Odia, and Hon. Friday Itulah. The APC’s delegation included Sen. Adams Oshiomhole, Comrade Philip Shaibu, and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

Justice W. Kpochi, chairing the three-man panel, granted each respondent 15 minutes to adopt their final submissions, while the petitioners were allowed 30 minutes in what would prove to be a heated debate.

Counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the first respondent, adopted the electoral body’s final written address, urging the tribunal to dismiss the petition. He argued that the petitioners had not proven their case, describing the petition as incompetent for failing to request the annulment of the entire election.

Counsel for Sen. Okpebholo, the second respondent, aligned with INEC’s arguments. He contended that the petitioners had failed to tender essential documents such as Form EC25D, which records ballot paper serial numbers, relying instead on Form EC25B, which merely documents the quantity of materials received and returned.

Counsel for the APC, the third respondent, adopted the positions of the other respondents, insisting that the petitioners were required to demonstrate non-compliance polling unit by polling unit, ward by ward, and local government by local government.

Responding on behalf of Dr. Ighodalo, counsel for the petitioners argued that the petition had been successfully substantiated. He highlighted that the petitioners had challenged results from 765 polling units — a volume of votes capable of affecting the overall outcome. Citing the Supreme Court decision in Uzodinma vs. Ihedioha, he submitted that the law does not require petitioners to challenge all polling units or tender alternative results. He also pointed out that the documents tendered were certified by INEC and admitted without objection.

The petitioners’ counsel dismissed claims that polling unit agents needed to testify to the documents, noting that the disputed collation took place at ward and local government collation centres, where polling unit agents were not present. He emphasized that INEC’s IReV results had been affirmed by multiple Supreme Court decisions, including Lawal vs. Matawalle.

Concluding his submission, the petitioners’ counsel urged the tribunal to consider the cumulative impact of the irregularities across the disputed polling units, rather than dismissing the petition on technical grounds.

Outside the courthouse, Hon. Ifaluyi Isibor, a PDP chieftain, addressed the press, expressing confidence in the petitioners’ case.

“We provided witnesses, we provided documents certified by INEC themselves, we cited Supreme Court judgments in similar matters, and the respondents failed to defend the electoral heist we witnessed in Edo State. Can you imagine that not only did INEC not object to the documents we tendered, they failed to produce even a single witness to defend their case?”

“Edo people did their part by voting for us, our lawyers have done their part, now everything is in the hands of the judiciary and God. We believe they will ensure that justice is served and impunity punished,” Ifaluyi-Isibor concluded.

The tribunal reserved judgment, with a date to be communicated to the parties.

https://leaders.ng/2025/03/03/edo-courtroom-drama-as-final-written-addresses-adopted-in-edo-election-petition/

People intestine don de shiver naw like dz

Wahala

Josepholome:
*Courtroom Drama as Final Written Addresses Adopted in Edo Election Petition*



https://leaders.ng/2025/03/03/edo-courtroom-drama-as-final-written-addresses-adopted-in-edo-election-petition/

Tinubu should just hang himself for God sake. How can only 1 person bring untold hardship onto millions of households?

Such a monumental failure.

Under Tinubu, Rivers State, Kanu State, Osun State, Edo State, Lagos State, Are all on fire because of his greed... a man that derives joy in wickedness and enslaving others.. Judiciary under APC became worst than ever, where someone that came 4th can be governor thereby overlooking 2nd and third to pick 4th and their online Zombies praise such Judgement.

Truth is unfolding. That election was shabby.

Over the bar

Make Edo no finally turn Lagos ooo!!!

INEC IS OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY

ok lets hope the people choice come through

Lol

Josepholome:
*Courtroom Drama as Final Written Addresses Adopted in Edo Election Petition*



https://leaders.ng/2025/03/03/edo-courtroom-drama-as-final-written-addresses-adopted-in-edo-election-petition/

We are in a dare situation in Nigeria. Judgements that have been coming out of our courts have been deeply concerning.

A boss who doesn't want to see anything good in her employee would never see.

A judge who doesn't want do justice would always say "the petitioners failed to prove their case"

PDP should not expect anything from this tribunal..

Not at such time when the ruling party is losing relevance and sympathy in many states already...

Is that your phone number? Don't expose yourself man

Bea1234:
Tinubu should just hang himself for God sake. How can only 1 person bring untold hardship onto millions of households?

Such a monumental failure.

E don cast

Exceed15:
Truth is unfolding. That election was shabby.

They voted APC

Collinica:
E don cast

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For Asue

DMerciful:
Is that your phone number? Don't expose yourself man

Yes. It's my number sir

Lobatan, ask Imo people they will tell you. Like Imo like Edo, and like Lagos like Osun soon.
APCshit the demon fashioned against any form of transparency in Naija.

Asue Ighodalo the real winner will take back what belongs to him, judiciary is the protector of the law they know what to do it's very clear to even a lame man

Asue Ighodalo is coming, Joy is coming 🥰

I believe the Judiciary will do the right thing.

Joy Is Coming

The Governor Edo people Elected

Asue Ighodalo is Coming

Nothing good will come out of this tribunal despite the obvious manipulated election , judiciary in love with govt of the day since 1960

Election irregularities will end when those rigged sue INEC instead. There is always a case against INEC which is easier to prove than against those they rigged for. By the time they are sued for multiple damages they'd have to sit up

Inec did not object to the admissibility of the certified documents tendered by the pdp and Asue Ighodalo

They couldn't also prove their case with any document

This is a dead-end for Okpebholo and apc

Asue Ighodalo Is Coming

sirgoody:
Inec did not object to the admissibility of the certified documents tendered by the pdp and Asue Ighodalo

They couldn't also prove their case with any document

This is a dead-end for Okpebholo and apc

Asue Ighodalo Is Coming

INEC is a compromised institution

INEC's failure to defend the same candidate he declared winner in the election is really surprising and same INEC gave PDP the certified true copies of all the result sheet and did not counter the overwhelming documentary evidence with any other result. PDP cited many supreme court judgment to buttress her point after presenting all the necessary documents including BVAS. APC have nothing to defend because INEC failed them. PDP is challenging the non collation of results at Ward and LGA level including over voting which APC witnesses also supported PDP during cross examination. Asue and PDP must win this case. It's simple. INEC is evil.

I am just imagining how Tinubu is destroying everything called legality in this country especially Lagos , Edo and Osun State in recent times...by the time he's done, the evil he must have created will be so much bigger than him to control.......

Asue of PDP is winning the case. It's easy

honestivo:
Nothing good will come out of this tribunal despite the obvious manipulated election , judiciary in love with govt of the day since 1960

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We hope judiciary redeem themselves with this very obvious Edo election case.
APC, INEC and Okpebholo can't even defend their stolen mandate.
Let's see what the judiciary come up with.
It's sad how our democracy is being murdered by those trained and empowered to preserve it.