Edo election tribunal latest news

Here are the latest news updates on the Edo State Election Tribunal:

Latest Updates:

  1. Tribunal Upholds Obaseki's Election: The Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal has upheld the election of Governor Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 2020 governorship election. The tribunal dismissed the petition filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and his party. (Source: Vanguard)
  2. Ize-Iyamu's Petition Dismissed: The tribunal dismissed Ize-Iyamu's petition, citing lack of evidence to prove the allegations of electoral fraud and irregularities. The tribunal also ruled that the petitioners failed to prove that the election was marred by violence, intimidation, and other irregularities. (Source: The Nation)
  3. Obaseki's Victory Confirmed: The tribunal's decision has confirmed Obaseki's victory in the election, which was initially contested by Ize-Iyamu. Obaseki was declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with 307,955 votes, while Ize-Iyamu polled 253, 144 votes. (Source: Premium Times)
  4. Ize-Iyamu's Next Step: Ize-Iyamu has vowed to appeal the tribunal's decision at the Court of Appeal, saying that the ruling was "unfair" and "biased". He has also called on his supporters to remain calm and peaceful. (Source: Leadership)
  5. Obaseki's Reaction: Obaseki has welcomed the tribunal's decision, saying that it has vindicated his administration's commitment to transparency and accountability. He has also thanked his supporters for their loyalty and urged them to continue to support his government. (Source: This Day)

Background:

The Edo State governorship election was held on September 19, 2020, with Obaseki of the APC and Ize-Iyamu of the PDP as the main contenders. The election was marred by allegations of electoral fraud and irregularities, which led to the filing of a petition by Ize-Iyamu and his party. The tribunal was set up to investigate the allegations and determine the validity of the election.

Key Issues:

  1. Electoral Fraud: Ize-Iyamu and his party alleged that the election was marred by electoral fraud, including vote-buying, ballot box snatching, and the use of fake voters.
  2. Irregularities: The petitioners also alleged that the election was characterized by irregularities, including the use of unregistered voters, the non-use of the Smart Card Readers, and the failure to provide adequate security.
  3. Violence: There were reports of violence and intimidation during the election, which led to the death of one person and the injury of several others.

Conclusion:

The Edo State Election Tribunal's decision to uphold Obaseki's election has brought an end to the controversy surrounding the election. While Ize-Iyamu has vowed to appeal the decision, the ruling has confirmed Obaseki's victory and validated his administration's commitment to transparency and accountability.