Edo election petitions tribunal: a radical deviation from business-as-usual to business-unusual

Crusaderhotnews 

By Gidigba Group

The emerging explosive revelations of the massive fraud that ropes the September 21 Edo guber, and the avowed determination to do what is right by the Justice Kpochi-led 3-member tribunal, holding at the National Judicial Institute, NJI, Abuja, the nation's capital, signals a radical deviation from undue interference in judicial matters to a transparent conversation expected to produce an unbiased outcome. 

APC/Okpebholo would never have thought for once that they would have to go through the rigours of proving their controversial victory in court; after all, they are at the centre; "the President will call the judiciary to give it to us", this has been their boast; quite laughable. 

As if the Office of the President is a motor park where laws and processes are suppressed for doctored outcomes. 

I am particularly worried for the APC folks with no understanding of legal issues they know nothing about; obviously they have not been enlightened by the very few of their leaders who may have sufficient understanding of the real issues. 

The Edo election petitions tribunal is an absolutely unique one in many sense; for the first time since 1999, a political party and its candidates have gone all out to provide compelling evidence of electoral malpractice.

The tendering of BVAS, IREV, CTCs, EC8A, and an array of PWs who appeared physically to testify, underscores the uniqueness and sensitivity of the Edo election petitions tribunal; the PDP, having been able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that there were manipulations in the September 21 Edo guber, leaving INEC, APC/Okpebholo in a tight corner to defend their acts. 

The task before INEC, APC/Okpebholo is herculean; INEC, particularly, would have to go through the rigours to defend the inconsistencies in its processes, its failure to comply with its electoral laws or provisions poses a significant challenge, Nigerians and the rest of the world would be very eager to hear the manner of defence INEC will put up of the massive electoral malpractice surrounding the election, when it commences its defense this Wednesday. 

For the APC/Okpebholo, currently overwhelmed with a cacophony of illegalities, and losing on all fronts, the Party and governor obviously disconnected from the vast majority of Edo people, the people can only continue to exercise hope in the tribunal's determination to do what is right, while keeping faith in God for His divine intervention on the Edo matter. 

Basically, the Edo election petitions tribunal, following its sensitive nature, the national and global interests it has attracted, cannot be dabbled into by anyone with intentions to influence its outcome, the exercise posseses capacity to rubbish any individual or group who may want to twist its hands. 

What is expected of the tribunal, particularly going by the diligent cross-examination thus far, is an outcome revolving around justice, equity, fairness, transparency, credibility, a judgement acceptable to the vast majority of individuals and groups who have followed the tribunal's proceedings since it began last year. 

So, for those banking on one big man to manipulate the tribunal's outcome despite the crystal clear malpractice, say no more, the ongoing Edo election petitions tribunal, and its accompanying sensitivity, is a radical deviation from business-as-usual to business-unusual.