Edo AG says PDP failed to prove claims at the Edo State Governorship Election Tribunal, reaffirming Governor Okpebholo’s victory

Edo State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Samson Osagie, has stated that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, failed to provide compelling evidence to support their petition before the Edo State Governorship Election Tribunal.

Speaking on Friday during the 10th-year remembrance anniversary of his late father, Pa Samson Imarhiagbe-Ogbewe, in Urhokuosa, Uhunmwode Local Government Area, Osagie affirmed that the tribunal’s ruling in favour of Governor Monday Okpebholo was inevitable given the lack of substantiation from the PDP.

The tribunal, chaired by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, had on Wednesday dismissed the PDP’s petition over alleged over-voting.

The court unanimously ruled that the petitioners did not prove their case, affirming that Governor Okpebholo polled the highest number of valid votes in the 21 September 2024 governorship election.

Osagie remarked, “The tribunal judgment in favour of the APC and Governor Monday Okpebholo was merely stating the obvious. We know that Okpebholo won the election.”

He added that throwing accusations without substantial evidence was not enough to challenge an electoral outcome. “It is not enough to allege, throw tantrums, or claim victory. You must demonstrate it with facts. The PDP and its candidate failed to do this,” he said.

According to the Attorney General, the PDP did not present any eyewitnesses or credible testimony to support its claims.

He criticised the opposition’s approach, stating, “How do you defend and prosecute an election petition when you did not call any eyewitness in any part of the state? You can’t forge papers, dump them in court, and expect the judges to interpret everything for you.”

Osagie also noted the technical complexity of electoral materials like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), saying that it was the duty of the petitioners to clearly explain their evidence using the devices they presented.

Highlighting the ongoing developmental strides under the current administration, he described Governor Okpebholo’s leadership as “God-ordained” and committed to people-centred governance.

“This judgment reaffirms practical governance as we are currently witnessing with the flag-off of massive projects across Edo State,” he added.

On a personal note, Osagie expressed deep gratitude to friends and political associates who joined his family to mark the 10th anniversary of his father’s passing. “We will continue to honour and live by the values of hard work and integrity which he stood for,” he said.

The memorial event attracted several prominent members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including former APC governorship aspirant Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, former Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, Edo State Commissioner for Finance Osareitin Edosomwan, and Emmanuel Okoebo, among others.