Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal Berates PDP for Failure to Produce Witnesses
The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has expressed dissatisfaction with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, for failing to present witnesses in their petition challenging the results of the September 21, 2024 gubernatorial election.
During the resumed proceedings on Tuesday, PDP’s counsel, Mr. Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN, explained that the witnesses meant to testify in the case had been affected by travel disruptions. He requested the tribunal to grant an adjournment, assuring that they would bring the necessary witnesses on a future date.
However, the tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, was not pleased with the delay, accusing the petitioners of wasting valuable judicial time. Justice Kpochi criticized the PDP for not having their witnesses available, asking, “Why then did we ask the other petitioners to take dates? We should have heard them today.” The tribunal urged the petitioners to call their witnesses immediately, indicating that they were ready to proceed.
Despite the plea from the petitioners’ counsel for another adjournment, citing the witnesses’ emotional state following their travel challenges, the tribunal adjourned the matter until Thursday for further proceedings.
Witness Testimony and Evidence
In the earlier stages of the proceedings, one witness, Mr. Oseyili Anenih, testified that while PDP was challenging the results of 765 polling units, Edo State has a total of 4,519 polling units. Anenih, who served as Director of Research and Strategy for the PDP, admitted that he did not visit all the polling units during the election and that much of the evidence was based on reports from party agents and experts. Some of these reports were not signed, and many results from the Situation Room were incomplete.
Anenih further confirmed that although the PDP did not have access to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) used during the election, screenshots of the machines were provided, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had been subpoenaed to provide the actual machines for inspection by the tribunal.
In cross-examination, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, representing Governor Monday Okpebholo, and Mr. Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), pressed Anenih on several points, including the lack of proper training by INEC for the PDP’s witnesses and the authenticity of some of the election results submitted.
Anenih maintained that despite the challenges, the legitimate votes cast in the election would have made Ighodalo the winner if properly collated.
PDP’s Petition
The PDP and Ighodalo are seeking to invalidate the outcome of the election, arguing that there was non-compliance with the Electoral Act and that Governor Okpebholo of the APC did not secure the highest number of lawful votes. The tribunal is set to continue hearing the case, with both sides preparing to present further evidence.
