By Edo Osahon
In a last-ditch effort to sway the outcome of the tribunal judgment, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, has allegedly attempted to enlist the support of traditional rulers in the southwest region, alongside Tinubu’s daughter.
However, this desperate bid and surprising turn of event by the PDP’s candidate has ultimately fallen flat, according to sources.
Sources close to the matter revealed that Ighodalo had been visiting traditional palaces to help to persuade the daughter of President Bola Tinubu to reach her father, seeking to leverage the influence of the president to sway the tribunal’s decision.
The move was disclosed by an insider on Sunday in Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, it would be recalled, declared Okpebholo the winner of the September 21, 2024, election, after securing 291,667 votes against Ighodalo of the PDP, who polled 247,274 votes.
However, after rejecting the result announced by the INEC, Dr. Ighodalo and his party sought the court to challenge the outcome.
On Wednesday January 17, 2025, the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-man 2024 Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal EPT, commenced the full hearing of the seven petitions challenging the declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress APC, as the winner of the 2024 Edo State Governorship Election.
It was learned that Dr. Asue Ighodalo, on perceiving that the judgment may not favour him at the tribunal, was prepared to seek the help of President Bola Tinubu using his kinsmen and his daughter to influence a tribunal judgment.
A close source who revealed the move said millions of monies have been expended in convincing some of the traditional rulers to crack the expected decision of the election petition to favour Dr. Ighodalo.
Since the PDP and its candidate began this move, it was also gathered that there has been a grand plan to cause tension in the state, a development that led to the call to move the Tribunal to Abuja over its safety.
Their main intention was to coarse the Tribunal to do their bidding and overturn the results declared by INEC, a condition seriously frowned at by President Tinubu, who we understand has insisted on doing the right thing.
Before long, it was learned that there’s a new plan again to disrupt the Tribunal sitting in Abuja, owing to what is perceived as inability of their witnesses who failed to present proof that they won the election.
Recall that the winner and APC had in different fora declared their interest to go to the highest court to defend their victory, a situation sending unrest to PDP and Ighodalo.
The tribunal judgment in the case between Dr. Asue Ighodalo and INEC is pending, and a date to be given for the judgment after the secretary of the tribunal had earlier said they will be communicating to all parties involved.
The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has already heard the final written addresses from all parties involved, including the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC and the All Progressives Congress APC.
Initially, the tribunal was expected to deliver its judgment within the 180-day legal limit, which would be around April 10, 2025.
However, the exact date of the judgment is yet to be announced.
