22nd January, 2025
By Jethro Ibileke
Three witnesses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday gave testimonies on how alleged irregularities marred the 21 September governorship election in three local government areas of Edo State before the election petition tribunal.
The PDP and its candidate in the election, Dr Asue Ighodalo are challenging the INEC’s declaration of the Gov. Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner.
One of the witnesses, Kennedy Osifo, who was led in evidence by Counsel to the PDP, Abiodun Owonikoko, tendered agents’ copies of the election results for 76 polling units in Ward II of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the State, where he alleged four electoral irregularities.
According to him, the irregularities were observed when the agents’ copies were examined alongside the certified true copies of the results of BVAS accreditation report obtained from the INEC’s IREV portal.
He therefore urged the Tribunal to adopt the document of the alleged discrepancies in evidence in the case, which he said had been highlighted in his witness statement on oath.
Osifo who said he was the PDP local government collation officer in the poll, alleged that the INEC relied on incorrect scores to announce the final result of the election.
When cross-examined, Osifo said his testimonies were based strictly on the two documents and not on contacts with the agents.
Another witness in the case, Adebayo Ogedegbe, mentioned 41 cases of irregularities in 45 units across Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the State.
The witness who claimed to be the party collation officer for the local government, testified that the INEC computed incorrect scores that negated the records in the certified true copies.
He further alleged overvoting in the four other units, even as he sought to tender the agents’ copies of results of these units in evidence to corroborate his claims.
For Owan West Local Government Area, Lucky Aroye, tendered agents’ copies of results in nine units where he also alleged over voting.
According to him, there were no prior recordings of sensitive materials in seven units of the local government area.
He also urged the Tribunal to adopt his statement on oath as evidence in the case.
But, when asked if he was able to visit all the units in the local government as the collation officer, he said there was no way he could have done that, considering the number of the units.
Counsels to the INEC, Okpebholo and APC, Kalu Agabi (SAN), Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) and Ijala (SAN) respectively, objected to the admissibility of the tendered documents, but reserved their grounds to their final written addresses.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, ruled that the documents were provisionally admitted in evidence.
Kpochi thereafter adjourned the sitting till Wednesday for continuation of hearing.