Edo Election Tribunal: PDP, Ighodalo Close Case As INEC Open Defense February 5

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, has closed their case, before the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, having produced 19 witnesses to testify so far.

Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member panel has however adjourned sitting to February 5, for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to open its defense.

When proceedings commenced on Mondaycounsel for the petitioners, Robert Emukpoeruo, SAN, informed the three-member panel that they have concluded their case, shortly after INEC, produced five additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, machines, that were used for the election.

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The electronic devices, which were tendered by a Senior Technical Officer in the ICT Department of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Anthony Itodo, were admitted in evidence, though all the Respondents in the matter objected, saying they would give their reasons in their final written addresses.

It will be recalled that the tribunal had earlier admitted in evidence, a total of 148 BVAS that were used in 133 polling units where results of the election are being disputed by the PDP.

INEC had declared that Okpebholo of the APC secured a total of 291, 667 votes to defeat his closet rivalry, Ighodalo of the PDP, who got a total of 247, 655 votes.

Aggrieved by the outcome of the poll, the PDP and its candidate approached the tribunal, praying it to nullify INEC’s declaration of the APC and Okpebholo as winners of the election.

(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)