A leaked document alleging the judgment of Edo State’s Election Petition Tribunal has sparked controversy just before the official verdict. It reveals a split decision, with two judges supporting Governor Okpebholo’s win, while one deems the election flawed, advocating for a new Certificate of Return for PDP’s Ighodalo.
BENIN CITY, Edo State — In a bombshell revelation that has rocked Edo State’s political landscape, an unsigned, leaked document allegedly embodying the judgment of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has ignited a maelstrom of controversy and speculation.
The document, emerging less than 24 hours before the tribunal’s scheduled verdict on Wednesday, 2 April 2025, has set tongues wagging and prompted urgent debates over its authenticity and implications for the state’s electoral process.
According to the leaked copy, which bears the petition number associated with the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) petition against Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a split decision has divided the tribunal’s panel.
Led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, the tribunal appears to have recorded a dichotomous outcome. Justice A. B. Yusuf, in firm alignment with the chairman, endorsed Okpebholo’s victory, contending that the minor electoral irregularities noted did not affect the overall margin of victory.
Citing key Supreme Court precedents, both justices maintained that despite procedural discrepancies, the integrity of the election results remained intact.
In a dramatic dissent, Justice A. A. Adewole diverged sharply from his colleagues. The leaked document asserts that Justice Adewole found the electoral process fatally flawed, emphasising that PDP candidate Asuerime Ighodalo secured 243,113 valid votes compared to Okpebholo’s 210,326.
In his dissent, he argued that non-compliance with the Electoral Act rendered the election invalid. Justice Adewole’s strong language not only criticised the declaration of results as erroneous but also ordered that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issue a fresh Certificate of Return in favour of Ighodalo.
This sensational split judgment has spurred a flurry of online debates and political conjecture, with many questioning whether the document truly reflects the tribunal’s final stance or is merely an unverified product of speculation.
Political analysts suggest that if the dissenting opinion prevails, it could pave the way for a seismic shift in Edo State’s political trajectory, potentially fuelling further electoral reforms.
As the official verdict looms, both political parties and keen observers remain on tenterhooks, awaiting confirmation of the tribunal’s decision which could have far-reaching consequences for Nigeria’s democratic fabric.
- Report by Osaigbovo Okungbowa, Atlantic Post Senior Political Correspondent
