State govt tasks contractors on prompt delivery of projects
Four additional witnesses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, claimed that the conduct of the 2024 governorship election in Edo State was characterised by irregularities in some polling units in Esan North East, Oredo, Esan South East and Esam Central local councils of the state. 
   
The development brings to 10 the number of witnesses so far presented by the PDP and its candidate in the election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, who is challenging INEC’s declaration of Monday Okpebholo as the winner of the election.
   
Giving his testimony at the resumed hearing of the petition marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, the petitioners’ witness and PDP Esan North East Local Council 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 in his statement that there was overvoting in nine polling units relating to exhibits PCB 40- PCB 48 of Form EC25B series in his local council.
   
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, EC8A, INEC election manual booklet, screenshots of IREV copies of Form EC8A, BIVAS accreditation Report and BIVAS Extract being CTCs of Form EC8C after personally examined them.

He tendered IREV CTC of results sheets obtained from INEC and duplicate copies of polling unit results in sheets of Form EC8A given by INEC to polling unit agents and his party agent card as documentary evidence.