From Our Correspondent
The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal is set to begin its sessions in Benin City, led by a three-member panel of esteemed judges. Justice W.I. Kpochi from Benue State will preside as Chairman, bringing his notable judicial experience to the proceedings.
The tribunal's role is to adjudicate petitions from political parties challenging the results of the recent governorship election held on September 21, 2024.
Justice Kpochi has a reputation for integrity and fairness, having previously dismissed baseless complaints against him.
He will be joined by Justice A.A. Adewole from Ogun State, known for his work on election tribunals, and Justice Z.T. Gani from Niger State, whose judicial background remains less publicly recognized but is valued on the panel.
The tribunal's proceedings come in response to the election results in which the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo, was declared the winner with 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 247,655 votes.
So far, only the PDP and Ighodalo have expressed intentions to contest the results.
As the tribunal prepares to convene, many citizens look to the judiciary as a crucial protector of democratic principles and fairness in the electoral process.
