The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the September 21, 2024, Edo State governorship election, Asue Ighodalo, have presented witnesses to the tribunal to challenge the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Led by PDP’s lawyer, Abiodun Owonikoko, SAN, a witness, Kennedy Osifo, submitted election result copies from 76 polling units in Ward II of Ikpoba Okha Local Government. Osifo alleged discrepancies and irregularities when comparing agents’ copies with INEC’s certified reports from its IREV portal. He urged the tribunal to accept his written statement as evidence.
Osifo, who served as the PDP collation officer, claimed INEC used incorrect scores to declare the election results. During cross-examination, he admitted his testimony was based solely on documents and not firsthand interactions with polling agents.
Another witness, Adebayo Ogedegbe, highlighted irregularities in 45 polling units in Akoko-Edo Local Government. He claimed INEC computed wrong scores, conflicting with certified records. Similarly, Lucky Aroye, representing Owan West Local Government, alleged overvoting in nine units and issues with sensitive material documentation in seven units.
Lawyers for INEC, Sen. Okpebholo, and the APC opposed the admission of the documents but deferred their arguments to final submissions. Tribunal Chairman Justice Wilfred Kpochi provisionally accepted the documents as evidence.
One witness from Ikpoba-Okha clarified that his role was limited to reviewing election results in a “situation room” and not direct involvement in the voting process.
