The 2024 Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has commenced its inaugural and pre-hearing session, to determine the fate of the suits seeking the removal of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

The tribunal is set to hear seven petitions challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration of Okpebholo as the winner of the September 21 governorship election.

One of the petitions was filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who emerged second in the election. The Labour Party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata, came third in the results declared by INEC on September 22.

The petitions before the tribunal allege irregularities and discrepancies in the election process, which they claim affected the outcome of the results.