Henry J
Benin City
19th January 2025
Justice is not a cloistered virtue, but a dynamic force that must be applied in everyday life. As the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal resumes sitting on Monday, January 20, 2025, Governor Monday Okpebholo is poised to assert his dominance in the case.
The PDP’s recent celebration of the tribunal’s acceptance of their documents may be premature, as this development does not necessarily signal a victory for the party. From a legal perspective, the acceptance of their documents does not confer any probative value to their case. The tribunal’s decision to admit the PDP’s documents as exhibits is merely a procedural step, and it does not imply that the documents have any evidentiary value.
The documents tendered by the PDP, including Form EC8EL and Form EC8D (marked as Exhibits PA1 and PA2, respectively), CTCs of Form EC8D for 18 polling units, and 320 copies of INEC polling unit forms EC8A, among others, may not be enough to prove their case. The PDP still has the burden of proof to demonstrate that the election was rigged, and this burden must be discharged beyond reasonable doubt.
Historically, there have been instances where election petition tribunals have accepted documents from petitioners, only for the petitions to be dismissed. For example, in the case of Peter Obi’s petition against Tinubu, the tribunal accepted a $460,000 forfeiture judgment as evidence, but ultimately dismissed the petition.
Applying the legal principle of “onus probandi,” which states that the burden of proof lies with the party making the allegations, it is clear that the PDP has a significant hurdle to overcome. The party must present compelling evidence to support their claims of election rigging, and this evidence must be sufficient to persuade the tribunal beyond reasonable doubt.
Meanwhile, the PDP’s desperation is becoming increasingly evident, with their political strategies unraveling at the seams. Their blood pressure monitor has dropped by 96%, indicating that they are on the verge of a political meltdown. It’s only a matter of time before they are rushed to intensive treatment services.
As the tribunal resumes sitting on Monday, Governor Okpebholo’s advantage is clear. He has a 100% chance of winning the case, and he’s poised to assert his dominance. The PDP will soon learn another lesson: Governor Monday Okpebhbolo is a political masquerade who should not be underestimated.
As the saying goes, the wheels of justice turn slowly, but they grind finely. The judgement day is near, and the sin of the PDP and Obaseki will be decided soon. Will the PDP be able to prove their case?
Only time will tell.