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Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, concluded his case before the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Monday, after presenting a single witness who admitted to over-voting in his polling unit during the September 21, 2024, election.
The tribunal had previously adjourned on Thursday after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) concluded its case without calling any witnesses. It reconvened on Monday, February 10, for Okpebholo to open his defence.
During the hearing, Okpebholo’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), called his sole witness, Usman Majek, a 31-year-old All Progressives Congress (APC) agent from Usen, Ovia South-West Local Government Area. Under cross-examination by the petitioners’ counsel, Adetunji Oyeyipo (SAN), Majek admitted that over-voting had occurred in his polling unit and that accreditation and voting took place simultaneously. He also stated that he had reported the issue to both the police and INEC after signing the result sheet.
When asked if he agreed that there was over-voting in his unit, Majek responded affirmatively. Following his testimony, Ikpeazu applied to close the defence, a request that was granted by the tribunal, as there were no objections from the petitioners (Peoples Democratic Party and Asue Ighodalo), INEC, or the APC’s counsel.
The tribunal panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, adjourned the case until Wednesday for the APC to present its case.
Meanwhile, Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa dismissed the PDP’s over-voting allegations, stating that the results from areas affected by over-voting had already been cancelled, rendering the claims baseless. He criticized the PDP for filing petitions without verifying the facts, pointing out that the disputed results had not been included in the official forms. Idahosa accused the PDP of using the tribunal proceedings as a media campaign rather than focusing on legal facts, expressing confidence in the judiciary to uphold the law.
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