By Newsmata
The legal team and supporters of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, on Monday felt vindicated when the only witness for Governor Monday Okpehbholo, who opened and closed his defence at the resumed sitting of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, admitted over-voting.
Lead Counsel to Governor Okpebholo of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) Onyechi Ikpeazu, senior advocate of Nigeria, (SAN) had announced to the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member tribunal on commencement of the day’s proceedings that the business of the day was for his client to open his case and prayed to be allowed to call his only witness.
The witness, Majek Osumah, who introduced himself as a polling unit agent of the APC during contentious election, however fumbled under cross-examination, admitting that there was over-voting in his polling unit. He also affirmed that in his unit, accreditation and voting took place simultaneously.
Majek caused further unease in the APC camp when he told the tribunal that he complained to the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) about the result he entered on the result sheet after he signed it.
Ikpeazu thereafter applied to close his client’s defence, an application granted by the tribunal especially given no objection by counsel to the other party.
Proceedings were consequently adjourned to February 12 for the APC to open its case.
Recall that INEC had last week similarly abruptly closed its defence without calling any witness though it had lined up several persons to defend its return of Okpebholo as the winner of the highly controversial election.
But Ighodalo, insisting that he was robbed of his mandate by INEC and the APC, had vowed to take it back hence his petition to the tribunal asking for the annulment of Okpebholo’s victory and his return as the duly elected candidate with highest majority votes.
The PDP candidate and his party hinged their prayers on grounds of alleeged non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022.