PDP Slams Edo Tribunal Verdict, Heads to Court of Appeal
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vehemently rejected the judgment of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, branding it a blatant miscarriage of justice and an endorsement of electoral fraud.
In a strongly-worded statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the Edo State PDP Chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, condemned the tribunal’s ruling, which upheld the declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate as winner of the 2024 gubernatorial election. He accused the tribunal of ignoring overwhelming evidence, distorting legal principles, and protecting what he described as a “rigged process.”
“Having received and studied the Certified True Copy of the judgment, it is now even clearer that the tribunal not only abandoned its duty to uphold the Constitution but also assumed the role of a fourth respondent, crafting legal technicalities to bury clear evidence of electoral malpractice,” Aziegbemi stated.
The PDP argued that the judgment did not just sidestep justice—it actively rewarded impunity, setting a dangerous precedent for future elections.
The party’s petition alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) colluded with the APC to manipulate results, failed to comply with its own guidelines, and suppressed lawful votes. According to the PDP, its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, won the majority of valid votes and should have rightfully been declared governor.
Backing these claims, Anthony Ehilebo, Special Adviser on Media to Ighodalo, described the tribunal’s judgment as a “judicial endorsement of an electoral coup.”
“Tap Initiative’s forensic audit exposed the most brazen electoral fraud in recent history,” Ehilebo revealed. “INEC printed duplicate result sheets and used them to announce their chosen candidate. Meanwhile, the authentic results remain visible on INEC’s IReV portal, contradicting the declared outcomes.”
He further asserted that INEC failed to complete mandatory electoral forms—violations that the Supreme Court has ruled are strict liability offences. “Shockingly, the tribunal treated these violations as minor technicalities instead of fatal flaws,” he said.
Ehilebo emphasized that these findings were not isolated claims. “A forensic report from Tap Initiative revealed that many results were suspiciously filled out by a single handwriting—an anomaly in any election conducted by multiple presiding officers.”
The PDP also highlighted the concerns raised by civil society organizations and international observers, who reportedly documented serious breaches of electoral integrity. The statement said a broad coalition of democracy advocates had described the 2024 Edo election as a textbook case of institutional manipulation and democratic backsliding.
Despite the setback at the tribunal, the PDP affirmed its determination to pursue justice. “We are not deterred,” Aziegbemi said. “We are heading to the Court of Appeal with facts, legal precedent, and the mandate of the Edo people behind us. The fight for electoral justice is far from over.”
As the PDP prepares its appeal, public scrutiny of INEC’s role in the election continues to intensify, raising urgent questions about the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
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PDP Slams Edo Tribunal Verdict, Heads to Court of Appeal