A document purportedly containing the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal’s judgment has surfaced online, suggesting a split decision that upholds Senator Monday Okpebholo of the APC as governor. The leak, which emerged on Tuesday, comes just a day before the tribunal’s scheduled ruling on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
The alleged judgment indicates that two of the three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, dismissed the petition by PDP candidate Dr. Asue Ighodalo, who challenged Okpebholo’s victory in the September 21, 2024, election. The majority reportedly ruled that evidence of electoral breaches was insufficient to overturn the result. However, a dissenting opinion from Justice A.A. Adewole allegedly favored Ighodalo, citing recalculated figures showing him ahead with 243,113 votes to Okpebholo’s 210,326.
INEC had declared Okpebholo winner with 291,667 votes, while Ighodalo polled 247,655. The PDP’s petition alleged widespread irregularities, including over-voting and non-compliance with electoral laws. The leaked document has triggered mixed reactions, with the APC celebrating a potential win and the PDP dismissing it as unverified.
As the state braces for tomorrow’s official verdict, questions swirl over the leak’s authenticity and its impact on public trust in the judicial process. Channels TV will provide live updates as the story develops.
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