The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) says the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is unable to present any evidence to contradict those tendered by the party and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, before the Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
Speaking at the resumed proceedings of the Justice Wilfred Kpochi led three -member Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Monday, March 3, 2025, counsel to the petitioners, Ken Mozia (SAN), stated before the tribunal that the respondents (INEC) have failed to tender any alternative result sheets as evidence, nor pleaded any alternative forms EC25B to challenge or contradict PDP’s documentary evidence of rigging across the disputed 765 polling units in Edo State.
“It is pertinent at this juncture to also bring to your attention that the second respondent (INEC) didn’t plead any alternative forms to ECB25B. All the documents we tendered were duly certified by INEC, and they admitted without objection by the maker (INEC),” Mozia disclosed
He went further to clarify that PDP had in its petition, only challenged 765 polling units with complaints of multiple incidents of over- voting, non -serialisation of ballots, and incorrect computation of results which altered the victory of Asue Ighodalo.
He cited Supreme Court decisions in Uzodinma vs Ihedioha, Kennedy vs INEC, and Johnson vs INEC, where the apex court established that there must be prior recording of sensitive election materials in forms EC25B, which INEC failed to comply with in some polling units during the governorship election.
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It will be recalled that the PDP governorship candidate, had presented 19 key witnesses and tendered 154 BVAS machines in proof of his case of multiple over- voting, non- serialization of ballots, and incorrect computation of results during the hearing of the petition marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024.
In contrast, the first respondent, INEC, failed to present a single witness to defend it’s controversial declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo as winner of the election.
The second respondent, Gov. Okpebholo, also declined to present additional witnesses, after presenting one witness who admitted under cross- examination that there was indeed, multiple incidents of over- voting in some polling units as alleged by the petitioners.
At the resumed hearing of the petition for adoption of final written addresses on Monday, the petitioners counsels were led by Adetunji Oyeyipo (SAN), while the first and second respondents were led by Kanu Agabi (SAN), Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), and Emmanuel Ukala (SAN) respectively.
Counsels adopted their final written addresses before the court, and the case was adjourned for final judgement on a date to be communicated to the parties.