By TAIYE AGBAJE

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Friday, called more witnesses at the election tribunal to challenge the victory of All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Monday Okpebholo, in the Sept. 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo.

Five witnesses testified before the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member panel of the Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja.

The witnesses alleged instances of over-voting in their polling units as APC, Okpebholo and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), through their lawyers, vehemently disagreed with their evidence.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the petitioners, PDP and its governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, are challenging the outcome of the election.

They petitioned INEC, Gov. Okpebholo, APC as 1st to 3rd respondents, respectively before the tribunal.

They prayed the tribunal to nullify the election results, alleging that the process was riddled with irregularities.

Led in evidence by the petitioners? counsel, Rotimi Ogunesan, SAN, the 15th petitioner?s witness (PW-15), Haruna Ibrahim, a 34-year-old businessman residing in Sabo Quarters, Auchi, adopted his witness statement.

During cross-examination by the INEC lawyer, Kanu Agabi, SAN, Ibrahim admitted to signing the result sheet for his ward.

However, he clarified that he did so only to obtain a copy for his party.

When Agabi suggested that signing the result sheet indicated the election was credible, PW-15 disagreed.

Agabi then asked whether Ibrahim had lodged a formal protest regarding his grievances.

Ibrahim said: ?I made a complaint to the unit officer. I protested, but not in writing. I did not file a written complaint.?

While being cross-examining by Okpebholo?s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, PW-15 reiterated his claim of over-voting in his polling unit.

Ikpeazu, however, countered his statement by referring to the result sheet, which he said showed no over-voting.

?Look at the ward result containing your polling unit. The reconciled result shows no over-voting,? Ikpeazu said while displaying the document.

?In this paragraph, column 7, that is my unit column. We had over-voting in that unit.

?The total votes cast exceeded the recorded votes. I made an official protest, but my efforts for cancellation were declined,? the witness insisted.

He further alleged discrepancies between the figures recorded on the result sheet presented at the tribunal and those from the election day:

?This form is from my unit, but the figures do not correspond to the records from my unit.?

Dan Orbih, who appeared for APC, also disagreed with the witness.

Orbih stated that the result sheet showed no over-voting and urged the witness to recount the figures himself.

The tribunal admitted the witness? agent card as evidence upon the request by the petitioners? counsel, despite objections from the respondents? lawyers.

?Court admits the agent?s card as evidence and reserves judgment on the objection to its admissibility,? the tribunal ruled.

Other witnesses who testified include Esther Okuo, a 27-year-old farmer from Igarra, Akoko-Edo LGA as 16th petitioner?s witness (PW-16); and Abubakar Uzairu, the PW-17), a teacher from Owan East LGA.

It also included Asuluka Righteousness, a motorcyclist from Enwan in Akoko-Edo LGA as PW-18 and Mutairu Yusuf, a farmer from Agbede in Etsako West LGA as PW-19.

The tribunal adjourned hearing until Feb. 3. (NAN)

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