Ismail Abdulazeez Mantu Reporting
The Edo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal resumed its sitting today, Tuesday, January 28, 2025, in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Truth Live News confirmed that a data analyst and expert witness took the stand to challenge the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo as the winner of the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State.
This session follows the tribunal’s relocation from Benin City to Abuja, announced by its Secretary, Mu’azu Bagudu, on Friday, January 24, 2025, citing security concerns.
At the hearing, a witness for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presented forensic evidence to back claims of over-voting in 75 polling units across all 18 local government areas of the state. Relying on certified true copies (CTCs) of Forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, and EC8D, alongside IREV results and BVAS accreditation reports, the expert argued that INEC failed to record critical serial numbers and other particulars of result sheets, BVAS machines, and other sensitive materials in the prescribed forms.
According to the witness, this omission, as stipulated by the Electoral Act 2022, invalidates the election in 320 polling units. He further stated that when the invalid votes are deducted, the PDP candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, emerges as the legitimate winner of the election.
Under cross-examination by INEC’s counsel, Kanu Agabi SAN, the data expert confidently affirmed his calculations, emphasizing their mathematical accuracy. Responding to the counsel for Governor Okpebholo, Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN, the witness clarified that the non-recording issue was based exclusively on Form EC25B.
A moment of tension unfolded when the All Progressives Congress (APC) counsel, E.U. Ukala, questioned the origin of the BVAS accreditation reports. In response, the witness produced certified data extracts obtained from INEC earlier this month, prompting the APC counsel to abruptly conclude the cross-examination before exhausting the allotted time.
As proceedings heated up, respondents’ counsels requested an adjournment, which the tribunal granted, setting the next hearing for January 30, 2025.