Witnesses representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday alleged significant irregularities in the September 21, 2024, Edo State governorship election, particularly in three local government areas.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election conducted across all 18 local government areas in the state. Dissatisfied with the outcome, the PDP and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, petitioned the tribunal to contest the result.
During Tuesday’s hearing, led by PDP counsel Abiodun Owonikoko, witnesses presented claims of discrepancies in the results. Kennedy Osifo, the PDP collation officer for Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, highlighted alleged irregularities in 76 polling units. He claimed that the discrepancies were identified when comparing agents’ copies of the results with INEC’s BVAS accreditation report from the IREV portal. Osifo accused INEC of using incorrect figures to announce the final results.
Another witness, Adebayo Ogedegbe, who served as the PDP’s collation officer for Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, alleged irregularities in 45 units, including overvoting in four. He provided agents’ copies of the results as evidence to back his claims.
For Owan West Local Government Area, Lucky Aroye alleged overvoting in nine units and the absence of prior documentation for sensitive election materials in seven units. He urged the tribunal to adopt his statement as evidence.
During cross-examinations, witnesses admitted to basing their claims solely on official documents rather than direct interactions with polling agents.
Legal representatives for INEC, the APC, and Okpebholo objected to the documents presented by the PDP witnesses but reserved their arguments for the final written submissions.
The tribunal, chaired by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, provisionally admitted the documents into evidence and adjourned the hearing to continue on Wednesday.
