Edo gov. poll tribunal: Gov. Okpebholo closes defence, calls lone witness

Edo Gov. Monday Okpebholo on Monday in Abuja opened and closed his case before the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led Edo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, calling only one witness.

At the resumed hearing of the petitions on Monday, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), the lead counsel to Gov. Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress(APC), informed the tribunal that the day’s proceedings would focus on opening of the APC candidate’s case.

Ikpeazu requested that the tribunal should permit him to call his sole witness.

The witness, Usman Majek, told the tribunal that he was the APC polling unit agent during the September 21, 2024, governorship election.

Under cross-examination, the witness, surprisingly admitted that there was indeed over voting in his polling unit.

He also affirmed that in his unit, accreditation and voting took place at the same time.

Majek informed the tribunal that he lodged complaints with both the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding discrepancies in the result he recorded on the result sheet after signing it.

Following Majek’s testimony, Ikpeazu made an application to the tribunal to close the defence case on behalf of the APC candidate.

The tribunal granted the application, especially as there was no objection from the other counsel.

The tribunal thereafter adjourned proceedings until February 12 for the APC to open its case.

Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, closed their case at the tribunal on Monday February 3, 2024.

Persecondnews recalls that Ighodalo and the party had called 19 witnesses to testify before the tribunal.

The PDP and Ighodalo, had approached the tribunal, asking it to invalidate the outcome of the election.

They cited alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act and also claimed that Okpebholo did not receive the majority of votes cast.

Okpebholo, formerly representing Edo Central Senatorial District, was sworn in as governor on November 12, 2024, after winning the Edo State governorships election with 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Ighodalo of PDP, who secured 247,274 votes.