Edo Tribunal: PDP Witnesses Present Evidence Of Overvoting, Score Discrepancies In Governorship Poll

The witnesses for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) testified before the Edo State Election Petition Tribunal,  on Tuesday, January 21, recounting alleged widespread irregularities during the September 21, 2024, gubernatorial polls in three local government areas of the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the election, which was conducted across all 18 local government areas of Edo State.

Dissatisfied with the outcome, the PDP and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, filed a petition challenging the results.

Led by PDP counsel Abiodun Owonikoko, a witness, Kennedy Osifo, presented agents’ copies of election results for 76 polling units in Ward II of Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area.

Osifo alleged irregularities when comparing the agents’ copies with the certified true copies of the BVAS accreditation report from INEC’s IREV portal.

He claimed the discrepancies were outlined in his witness statement, which he urged the tribunal to accept as evidence.

Osifo, who served as the PDP collation officer for Ikpoba Okha, accused INEC of using incorrect figures to declare the final results.

During cross-examination, he clarified that his testimony was based solely on the documents he reviewed, not on direct interactions with polling agents.

Another witness, Adebayo Ogedegbe, alleged irregularities in 45 polling units in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.

According to Ogedegbe, INEC miscalculated scores in 41 units and alleged cases of overvoting in four units. He submitted agents’ copies of results as evidence to back his claims.

In Owan West Local Government Area, Lucky Aroye alleged overvoting in nine polling units. He also claimed that sensitive materials were not properly recorded in seven units, presenting agents’ copies of results and urging the tribunal to accept his sworn statement as evidence.

When cross-examined, Aroye admitted he could not visit all the polling units as the collation officer due to their large number.

Counsel representing INEC, Okpebholo, and the APC—Kalu Agabi, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, and Emmanuel Ukala, respectively—opposed the admissibility of the documents but deferred their arguments to their final written submissions.

The tribunal chairman, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, provisionally admitted the documents as evidence and adjourned proceedings to Wednesday for the continuation of the hearing.