By Ogochukwu Isioma
The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, has dismissed the Social Democratic Party (SDP) petition aimed at overturning the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The tribunal’s three-member panel, chaired by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, made the decision after the SDP chose to withdraw its petition.
During Tuesday’s hearing, SDP’s legal representative, Mr. Jackson Ehiavhie informed the tribunal that the party had received instructions from its National Secretariat to cease pursuing the case.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), along with Governor Okpebholo and the All Progressives Congress (APC), did not raise any objections to this withdrawal, leading to a swift dismissal of the case by the tribunal.
After the ruling, Ehiavhie noted that the SDP’s national leadership had extended congratulations to Governor Okpebholo, a gesture that contradicted the stance of the party’s governorship candidate and the state-level executives.
The APC’s legal team reacted positively to the SDP’s decision to withdraw, viewing it as a constructive move.
They further called on other opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to abandon their petition, which they characterized as a mere distraction.
The APC also emphasized that the PDP had previously prepared to call 91 witnesses but only managed to present 19, none of whom successfully sustained their testimonies under cross-examination.
