At the resumed hearing of the Edo State Governorship Election Tribunal in Abuja on Tuesday, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) acknowledged that its legal challenge to the outcome of the 2024 governorship election only concerns 765 polling units out of the total 4,198 in the state, representing 16.7% of the total units.
This admission came from the PDP’s legal team and its star witness, as they presented their case before the three-member tribunal led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi. The PDP and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, are contesting specific aspects of the electoral process but have not challenged the overall validity of the election result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which saw the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, declared winner.
Observers noted that the limited scope of the PDP’s petition suggested that even if the tribunal ruled in their favor on the disputed polling units, it is unlikely to alter the final outcome of the election. This has led to speculation in some quarters that the PDP’s case may be more of a procedural exercise rather than a substantial challenge to the election results.
Complicating matters for the PDP, the party has faced difficulties in presenting witnesses as scheduled. Additionally, concerns have been raised over the credibility of some of their submissions, with reports that certain documents were unsigned, and some witness statements relied on second-hand accounts. During cross-examination, the PDP’s star witness, Mr. Ose Anenih, admitted that he was not accredited by INEC to perform any official function during the election, raising questions about the weight of his testimony.
As the tribunal proceedings continue, political analysts suggested that the case may not significantly impact the overall result but could serve to address specific electoral concerns raised by the PDP. Meanwhile, supporters of Governor Okpebholo have urged him to remain focused on governance and delivering on his electoral promises to the people of Edo state.
