The Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal resumed its hearing on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, with fresh allegations of over-voting during the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State.
A collation agent for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Ovia South West Local Government Area testified that multiple over-voting occurred in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across seven polling units in the area.
The PDP witness claimed that in polling units 014, 007, 004, 006, 016, 028, and 034, the total number of votes cast exceeded the total number of accredited voters.
“In these polling units, INEC failed to cancel the results despite glaring evidence of over-voting,” the witness stated in his written statement on oath.
The witness, who served as the PDP collation agent for Ovia South West, relied on the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) accreditation report, certified true copies (CTC) of result sheets (Form EC8A-C), and BVAS extracts to substantiate his claims.
Under cross-examination, he revealed that PDP agents observed the over-voting and lodged a protest with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) presiding officers, but their complaints were ignored.
The witness highlighted that the alleged irregularities occurred in the local government area of Hon. Dennis Idahosa, the running mate to the APC governorship candidate and now Deputy Governor.
Counsels for the first respondent (INEC), Kanu Agabi (SAN), and second respondent (APC candidate Okpebholo), Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), raised objections to the admissibility of the witness’s statement on oath.
However, the tribunal overruled the objections and admitted the statement as evidence.
The hearing continues as the tribunal examines more PDP witnesses, who are expected to present additional evidence supporting allegations of electoral malpractice.
The tribunal has yet to set a date for delivering its judgment on the petition marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024.
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