Edo election Tribunal: APC to present 28 witnesses for defense

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it is lining up 28 witnesses that would testify and tender exhibits before the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja.

The party made the disclosure on Wednesday after it opened its defence to the petition that is seeking to nullify the outcome of the governorship election that was held in the state on September 21, 2024, which was declared in favour of its candidate, Governor Monday Okpebholo.

Among four witnesses the APC produced before the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member panel, included those that served as its Local Government Collation Agents, during the disputed election.

The witnesses, who were led in evidence by APC’s team of lawyers led by Mr. Emmanuel Ukala, took turns to explain why the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, cancelled results from some polling units within their respective LGAs.

According to the witnesses, INEC officials had during the collation process, discarded all the results that emanated from polling units where over-voting occured.

APC’s first witness, Mr. Afuda Theophilus, who told the panel that he is a businessman, identified result of the election from Esan North East, LGA, which was already an exhibit before the tribunal.

He told the tribunal that result of the election from his LGA was signed by an agent of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Theophilus confirmed to the tribunal that under Exhibit PCB-40, titled: Ballot Paper and Verification Statement, the Part A of the document was expected to be completed by an official of INEC before the opening of poll, while Part B was to be completed after the close of poll.

He told the tribunal that page 6 of the Exhibit PCB-40 relates to Esan North East LGA, adding that it was indicated that the document was for governorship election.

The witness further told the tribunal that under Part A of the Exhibit, the first item required the serial number of the Ballot Papers that were issued to the polling units.

When he was shown a copy of the document to confirm, the witness, said: “Yes, I can see serial numbers recorded on this document. They are: 0459785 and 0460292.”

He insisted that serial numbers of Ballot Papers issued to the respective polling units were filled.

However, while being cross-examined by a member of the legal team of the petitioners, Mr. A. J. Owonikoko (SAN) the witness, said he was aware that the PDP raised the allegation of over-voting in one polling unit in Esan North East LGA.

When he was shown Exhibit PDA-12, the witness confirmed to the tribunal that the total number of accredited voters in Unit 11, Ward 6, was 96.

He, however, admitted that after the election, it was recorded that APC got 53 votes, PDP 43 and one rejected vote.

Following a directive by the petitioners’ counsel, the witness calculate the votes and told the tribunal that it amounted to 97 as against 96 persons that were accredited to vote at the polling unit.