A leaked document, allegedly containing the judgment of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, has surfaced online just hours before the official verdict is set to be announced.
The document, which reportedly bears the petition number of the case filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asuerime Ighodalo, against Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), emerged less than 24 hours before the tribunal’s scheduled ruling on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
According to The PUNCH, which obtained a copy of the document, the ruling appears to indicate a split decision among the three-member tribunal panel. Justice Wilfred Kpochi, the tribunal’s chairman, and Justice A.B. Yusuf allegedly ruled in favor of Governor Okpebholo, dismissing the petitioners’ claims. They acknowledged some irregularities in the election but stated they were not significant enough to overturn the outcome, citing Supreme Court precedents.
However, Justice A.A. Adewole reportedly dissented, arguing that Ighodalo had secured 243,113 valid votes against Okpebholo’s 210,326. The leaked judgment suggests he declared the election invalid due to non-compliance with the Electoral Act and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a fresh Certificate of Return to Ighodalo.
The emergence of the document has sparked widespread debate, with questions about its authenticity and whether it accurately reflects the tribunal’s final ruling or is merely speculative. The official judgment is expected to be delivered tomorrow.
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