The Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal witnessed dramatic proceedings today, January 21, 2025, as explosive revelations emerged concerning the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
Truth Live News confirmed that a witness for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) unveiled evidence alleging that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) unlawfully excluded 2,840 votes scored by PDP candidate Dr. Asue Ighodalo in 76 polling units in Ward 2, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area (LGA).
At the resumed hearing of the petition marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, the PDP LGA Collation Agent for Ikpoba Okha presented detailed evidence to substantiate claims of deliberate vote exclusion. He submitted Certified True Copies (CTCs) of result sheets obtained from INEC’s IREV portal and duplicate copies of Form EC8A issued to polling unit agents.
The witness stated that while the correct scores for the PDP were uploaded on IREV at the polling unit level, they were altered during collation at the ward and state levels, favoring the All Progressives Congress (APC). This manipulation, he said, deprived the PDP of rightful votes during collation for Forms EC8B, EC8C, and EC8D.
“The results from 76 polling units in Ward 2, Ikpoba Okha LGA were duly declared and uploaded on IREV but were unlawfully excluded by INEC at the LGA and state collation levels,” the witness testified. He explained that he personally examined duplicates provided to polling agents and verified the scores with INEC’s CTCs.
During cross-examination by Kanu Agabi (SAN), counsel for the respondents, the witness maintained his position, emphasizing his active role as a collation agent. To bolster his testimony, he tendered his identification tags, BVAS accreditation records, and IREV-certified documents as exhibits.
Despite strong objections from INEC’s and APC candidate Monday Okpebholo’s legal teams, the tribunal admitted all the evidence presented by the PDP witness.
The revelations have stirred intense reactions, with analysts describing the allegations as a potential game-changer in the ongoing petition. As the tribunal continues, all eyes remain on the proceedings, which could reshape the narrative of Edo State’s governorship election.
Stay tuned to Truth Live News for more updates on the ongoing Edo State governorship election tribunal proceedings.