Controversy has erupted in Edo State as documents purported to be the judgement of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal surfaced online ahead of the official ruling.

The unexpected emergence of these documents has fueled debate over the tribunal’s final verdict and raised concerns about the security of judicial proceedings.

The documents appeared on social media less than 24 hours after the tribunal summoned all parties involved in the case to appear before it on April 2, for the official judgement delivery. This development has led to widespread speculation about the authenticity of the leaked judgement and its implications for the election dispute.

The three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, had reserved judgement on March 3 after hearing the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Asuerinme Ighodalo.

The petition challenged the outcome of the September 21, 2024, governorship election, in which Governor Monday Okpebholo was declared the winner.

Before the panel could announce its decision, copies of what seemed to be the final judgement circulated widely, suggesting a split decision among the judges. While the majority of the panel ruled in favor of Okpebholo, one judge dissented, declaring that the election was invalid due to irregularities.

Justice Kpochi and Justice A. B. Yusuf upheld Okpebholo’s victory, stating that although some irregularities were identified, they were not substantial enough to overturn the election results. The two judges cited past Supreme Court rulings, emphasizing that minor errors in collation and exclusions did not affect the final outcome.

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On the other hand, Justice A. A. Adewole, in his minority judgement, concluded that Okpebholo’s election was not valid. He reportedly argued that the total valid votes showed Ighodalo had 243,113 votes, surpassing Okpebholo’s 210,326. As a result, he ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue a fresh Certificate of Return to Ighodalo as the rightful winner.

Justice Adewole based his decision on alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act, asserting that the PDP’s petition was not adequately countered. He maintained that the evidence presented demonstrated that the final election results were incorrectly declared.

The conflicting judgements have heightened political tensions in Edo State, with supporters from both parties reacting strongly to the leaked documents. Some argue that the leak undermines the tribunal’s credibility, while others believe it indicates an attempt to manipulate public perception before the official ruling.

The situation has also raised serious questions about the security of sensitive judicial documents. Legal experts and political observers are calling for an investigation to determine how the documents were leaked and whether they accurately reflect the tribunal’s final decision.

As the official judgement date approaches, uncertainty lingers over the fate of the governorship election dispute. With both parties awaiting the tribunal’s pronouncement, the controversy surrounding the leaked documents continues to dominate discussions across the state.

Reported by The Conclave.