The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has indicated that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may soon abandon its petition challenging the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo due to a lack of substantial evidence.
The APC expressed confidence that the inadequacies in the testimonies presented by the PDP’s witnesses at the tribunal will compel the party to reconsider its stance.
This optimism follows the recent dismissal of petitions from the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and Allied People’s Movement (APM) by the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja. These parties withdrew their cases against the APC and Governor Okpebholo, a decision announced on Friday.
Comrade Wisdom Isaac, representing the petitioners, emphasized that their withdrawal was motivated by a commitment to the welfare and development of Edo State.
“We prioritize the maintenance of peace for the flourishing of the state,” he stated, asserting that the petitioners did not wish to disrupt the governor’s efforts in leading the state. He also noted that there will be future opportunities for political engagement, particularly with an eye on the 2028 gubernatorial election.
Echoing this sentiment, Jackson Ehiabhi, counsel for the Allied People’s Movement, affirmed that the petitioners aimed to avoid distracting the governor from his responsibilities, placing the well-being of Edo State above their individual ambitions.
With the tribunal’s dismissal of these four cases, attention now turns to the PDP’s petition. The APC remains hopeful that the PDP will withdraw its claims, similar to the other parties, as they confront the reality that their allegations lack a substantial foundation, as evidenced by the weak testimonies at the tribunal.
