The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal witnessed a dramatic turn of events on Monday as the state governor, Monday Okpebholo, opened and closed his defence in one swift move after presenting a single witness. The development followed the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision last week to conclude its case without calling any witnesses to justify the election it conducted on September 21, 2024.
Lone Witness Acknowledges Over-Voting
During the proceedings, Okpebholo’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), called Usman Majek, a 31-year-old resident of Usen in Ovia South-West Local Government Area, as his sole witness. Under cross-examination by the petitioners’ lead counsel, Adetunji Oyeyipo (SAN), Majek admitted that over-voting occurred in his polling unit.
Furthermore, Majek, who served as a polling unit agent for the All Progressives Congress (APC), acknowledged that accreditation and voting took place simultaneously in his unit. He also informed the tribunal that he had lodged a complaint with the police and INEC regarding discrepancies in the recorded results.
When asked directly by Oyeyipo if he agreed that there was over-voting in his unit, Majek responded affirmatively.
Defence Officially Closed
Following the testimony, Ikpeazu applied to close Okpebholo’s defence, a request that was granted by the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member tribunal without objection from the petitioners—the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their candidate, Asue Ighodalo—INEC, or APC’s legal representatives.
The tribunal subsequently adjourned the hearing to Wednesday, February 12, when the APC is expected to open its defence.
APC Deputy Governor Dismisses PDP’s Claims
Meanwhile, Edo State Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, has dismissed the PDP’s allegations of over-voting as baseless, asserting that results from affected areas were already nullified in accordance with electoral laws.
“I have refrained from commenting on the tribunal proceedings until now. However, I feel compelled to address the misinformation being spread by the PDP regarding my constituency,” Idahosa stated.
He clarified that results from Unit 4, Ward 7, Usen, were canceled due to over-voting and were never included in Form EC8A for unit results or Form EC8B for ward results. He criticized the PDP for filing petitions without verifying these facts, questioning the rationale behind challenging results that were not computed in the final tally.
“The APC’s witness confirmed in court that the cancelled results were not included in the computation,” Idahosa emphasized. “Why would the PDP contest results that do not exist? It is evident they do not fully understand the electoral process.”
Tribunal Proceedings vs. Media Campaign
The deputy governor further accused the PDP of treating the tribunal as a media propaganda platform rather than a legal battle. He argued that their case lacks merit and expressed confidence in the judiciary’s ability to deliver a fair verdict based on facts rather than media sensationalism.
“The tribunal is not a political rally; it is a legal institution. I have faith that the judiciary will uphold the rule of law and dismiss cases that lack legal foundation,” Idahosa concluded.
What’s Next?
As the tribunal reconvenes on Wednesday for the APC’s defence, all eyes will be on the party’s legal team to see how they navigate the allegations and present their case. With Okpebholo’s defence already closed, the focus now shifts to how the tribunal will interpret the evidence presented so far.
The coming weeks promise to be decisive for the Edo State governorship election dispute, with legal arguments set to shape the final outcome of the case.
