Hearing in the election petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and it candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo at Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal continued yesterday with witnesses testifying how irregularities allegedly marred the Sept. 21, 2024 election in three Local Government Areas of the state.
Led in evidence by Abiodun Owonikoko, PDP counsel in the case, one of the witnesses, Kennedy Osifo, tendered agents’ copies of the election results for 76 polling units in Ward II of Ikpoba- Okha Local Government Area of the state, where he alleged four electoral irregularities.
He said the irregularities were observed when the agents’ copies were examined alongside the certified true copies of the results of BVAS accreditation report obtained from the INEC’s IREV portal, stressing that the discrepancies had been highlighted in his witness statement on oath, which he urged the tribunal to adopt in evidence in the case.
Osifo told the Tribunal that he was the PDP Local Government Collation officer in the poll and alleged that the INEC relied on incorrect scores to announce the final result of the election.
When cross-examined by Counsel of the Respondents in the case, Osifo said his testimonies were based strictly on the two documents and not on contacts with the agents.
Another witness, Adebayo Ogedegbe, who said he was PDP Collation officer in Akoko-Edo Local Government, alleged cases of irregularities in 45 units of the state and that in 41 of the units, INEC computed incorrect scores that negated the records in the certified true copies.
Besides, he alleged over voting in four other units and sought to tender the agents’ copies of results of the units in evidence to corroborate his claims.
Testifying in respect of Owan West Local Government Area, Lucky Aroye, tendered agents’ copies of results in nine units where he alleged over voting.
He said there were no prior recordings of sensitive materials in seven units of the local government area and urged the Tribunal to adopt his statement on oath as evidence in the case.
Asked by Respondents Counsel if he was able to visit all the units in the local government as the collation officer, Aroye said there was no way he could have done that, considering their numbers.
Kanu Agabi, Onyechi Ikpeazu and Ukala, who are Counsels to the INEC, Okpebholo and the APC, objected to the admissibility of the tendered documents, but reserved their grounds to the final written addresses.
The Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, in his ruling, said the documents were provisionally admitted in evidence and adjourned further hearing of the petition to today.
SUN NEWS
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