PDP calls 10 witnesses to testify against Okpebholo’s victory
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the September 21 governorship election, Asue Ighodalo on Thursday called four additional witnesses, bringing the number of witnesses to prove its allegations of irregularities in the election to 10. The PDP and its candidate in the election are challenging the INEC’s declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo […]
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the September 21 governorship election, Asue Ighodalo on Thursday called four additional witnesses, bringing the number of witnesses to prove its allegations of irregularities in the election to 10.
The PDP and its candidate in the election are challenging the INEC’s declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner.
The four witnesses challenged the outcome of the result in some polling units such as Esan North East, Oredo, Esan South East and Esan Central local government areas in the state.
At the resumed hearing of the petition marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, the petitioners’ witness and PDP Esan North East Local Government Area Collation Agent, Mr. Igbarase Matthias, prayed the tribunal to admit his statement on oath, which he deposed to on October 11, 2024, in support of the petitioners’ case.
He claimed that there was over-voting in nine polling units relating to exhibits PCB 40- PCB 48 of Form EC25B series in his local government area.
Matthias told the court that in arriving at his statement on oath, he relied on certified true copies of INEC’s Voters Register, Forms EC25B’s, EC8A’s, INEC election manual booklet, screenshots of IREV copies of Form EC8A, BIVAS accreditation Report and BiVAS Extract being CTC’s of Form EC8C, after personally examining them.
He tendered IREV-certified true copies of results sheets obtained from INEC and duplicate Copies of Polling Unit Results Sheets of Form EC8A given by INEC to polling unit agents and his party agent card as documentary evidence.
Upon cross-examination by lead counsel to the 1st Respondent (INEC), Kanu Agabi, the witness said he made his deposition on October 11, 2024, while the screenshots of INEC’s BIVAS Report he relied on his statement were certified by INEC on January 8, 2025.
On his part, the PDP agent for Oredo Local Government Area, Aigbe Ighodaro Lucky, told the court that there was over-voting in 66 polling units in the local government area and incorrect scores were entered by INEC for his party in favour of the APC during the election.
He said he relied on INEC documents to arrive at his statement on oath and adopted the same as evidence in the petition.
When cross-examined by counsel to the respondents, the witness claimed to have relied on INEC documents made available to him in the formation of his deposition, despite never participating in the signing of the documents except Form EC25C
Also Adekunle Oboh, PDP local government area collation agent in Esan Central, said there were irregularities in 23 polling units in the area during the election.
Justice Wilfred Kpochi, Chairman of the Tribunal, however, admitted the documents in evidence provisionally, pending the arguments of the respondent’s counsel, and adjourned sitting to today for continuation of the hearing.