Dr. Bright Enabulele, the governorship candidate for the Accord Party, alongside Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have launched a fierce challenge against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the September 21, 2023, Edo State governorship election.
Enabulele is contesting the outcome of the election, which saw APC’s Monday Okpebholo declared the winner.
The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, chaired by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, recently submitted its pre-hearing report, laying out the framework for the upcoming hearings.
According to the tribunal’s schedule, the proceedings will officially begin on Monday, January 13, 2025, where both Ighodalo and Enabulele will present their respective cases against the election results.
The primary respondents in the case include Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, the APC, and INEC, all of whom are defending the election outcome that Enabulele and Ighodalo claim was marred by irregularities.
The tribunal had outlined a strict timeline for the hearings, with daily sessions set to occur, excluding Sundays and federal public holidays. Both petitioners are expected to present substantial evidence to support their claims.
Ighodalo’s team is set to present up to 290 witnesses, while Enabulele’s legal team has been granted approval to call up to four witnesses.
Justice Kpochi also made it clear that requests for frivolous adjournments would not be entertained, stressing the tribunal’s commitment to expediting the proceedings in line with the Electoral Act of 2022, which imposes strict timelines on election-related petitions.
Addressing journalists following the submission of the tribunal’s pre-hearing report, Dr. Enabulele expressed confidence in the Nigerian justice system. “I have full faith in the ability of our judiciary to deliver justice,” he said. “This is not about winning or losing. It is about allowing the voice of the people to prevail, and ultimately trust our electoral system in the future.”
The legal battle is poised to be intense, with Enabulele not backing down, and vehemently accusing both INEC and the APC of compromising the integrity of the election process. His petition argues that there were significant discrepancies in the electoral process that skewed the results in favour of Okpebholo.
With the hearing date set for January 13, all eyes will be on the tribunal as the legal fireworks unfold, setting the stage for what could be a landmark decision in Edo State’s political landscape.