 and its governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, concluded their case on Monday at the Edo Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja, challenging the outcome of the governorship election.){kind=link}
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, concluded their case on Monday at the Edo Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja, challenging the outcome of the governorship election.
The petitioners, PDP and Ighodalo, filed the suit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Governor Monday Okpebholo, seeking to overturn the election results.
Lead counsel for the petitioners, Robert Emukpoeruo, informed the tribunal that the case had been concluded after presenting 19 witnesses.
In response, INEC introduced five additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines used during the election. These electronic devices were submitted by Anthony Itodo, a senior technical officer from INEC’s ICT Department.
Despite objections from all respondents, the BVAS machines were admitted as evidence, with the respondents indicating they would provide reasons for their objections in their final written addresses.
Earlier, the tribunal had already accepted evidence showing that 148 BVAS machines were used across 133 polling units where the petitioners were disputing the results.
Led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, the three-member tribunal adjourned the hearing to February 5, when INEC will begin presenting its defense.
Similarly, the Action Democratic Party (ADP) closed its case after its chairman in Edo, Francis Obamwonyi, testified. He expressed surprise at the claim that his party’s candidate also served as the state collation agent. Obamwonyi further testified that the ADP had secured 1,119 votes in the election, which was won by the APC and its candidate. When questioned about allegations of non-compliance with the Electoral Act, over-voting, and intimidation, Obamwonyi stated that these claims were based on reports from the party’s agents in various polling units.
The tribunal set February 6 for INEC to begin presenting its defense.
Reacting to the PDP’s closure of its case, the APC Chairman in Edo, Jarrett Tenebe, argued that the PDP’s move indicated the lack of merit in their case.
He criticized the PDP for calling only 19 witnesses in a dispute involving over 700 polling units, suggesting that this action showed the party had abandoned its case.
Tenebe expressed confidence that when the APC presents its defense, it will be clear to both the public and the people of Edo that the APC emerged as the true winner of the election.
INEC had declared Governor Okpebholo of the APC the winner of the September 21, 2024, election, with 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo of the PDP, who received 247,655 votes.
Unsatisfied with the outcome, the PDP and Ighodalo filed the petition, asking the tribunal to nullify INEC’s declaration, alleging that Okpebholo did not secure the highest number of lawful votes and that the election was marred by non-compliance with the Electoral Act.