…APC to open defence Wednesday
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State opened and closed his defence on Monday by calling just a witness before the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal hearing the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the last governorship election, Asue Ighodalo.
The PDP and Ighodalo are, by their petition, marked: EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024 challenging the declaration of Okpebholo, who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the governorship election held on September 21, 2024, as the winner.
The petitioners are among others, alleging over-voting, non-serialization of electoral materials, and incorrect computation of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), acts they claimed were in favour of the APC.
Although Okpebholo’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) had, before Monday, indicated his client’s intention to call six witnesses, he ended up calling only one on Monday.
The witness, Majek Osumah, from Ward 7, unit 4, Ovia South West Local Government, testified that the election was conducted under a peaceful atmosphere.
Osumah however, noted that the result of ward 7, unit 4, was cancelled due to over-voting.
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He claimed to have worked as a polling unit agent, adding that in Form EC8B, the column for the result of his unit had no record.
The witness stated that the result was canceled when it was discovered that there was over-voting.
Osumah said there were complaints and protests, following which the Ward Collation Officer agreed to cancel the results.
After his testimony, Ikpeazu announced the closure of the second respondent’s case.
The lawyer to the APC, subsequently sought Emanuel Ukala (SAN) an adjournment to a later date to enable his client to open its defence.
Justice Wilfred Kpochi, who is the Chairman of the three-member tribunal, adjourned till Wednesday for the APC to open its defence.