The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the 2024 Edo State governorship election, Asue Ighodalo, have closed their case at the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja after presenting 19 witnesses.
Ighodalo and the PDP are challenging the victory of Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was declared the winner of the September 21, 2024 election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The petitioners’ lawyer, Robert Emukpoeruo (SAN), announced the closure of their case on Monday after an INEC official, Anthony Itodo, tendered five additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices used during the election. These were admitted into evidence by the tribunal despite objections from the respondents, who pledged to present their counterarguments in their final written addresses.
Previously, the tribunal admitted 148 BVAS devices used in 133 polling units, where the PDP and Ighodalo allege over-voting took place.
According to INEC’s official results, Okpebholo of the APC secured 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo of the PDP, who polled 247,655 votes.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, the PDP and Ighodalo filed a petition, marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, seeking to nullify Okpebholo’s victory. They argue that the election was marred by irregularities and non-compliance with the Electoral Act, claiming Okpebholo did not secure the highest number of lawful votes.
The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, has adjourned the proceedings to Wednesday, February 5, when INEC is expected to open its defence.
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